ABRIDGED  EDITION 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION 

INCLUDING  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  GREAT- 
EST REVIVALS  SINCE  PENTECOSTAL 
DAYS,  AND  TELLING  HOW 
TO  BRING  ABOUT  AN 

OLD  TIME  REVIVAL 


BY  REV.  S.  B.  SHAW, 

AUTHOR  OF 

GOD'S  FINANCIAL  PLAN,"  "TOUCHING  INCIDENTS  AND 
REMARKABLE  ANSWERS  TO  PRAYER,"  "dYING 
TESTIMONIES  OF  SAVED  AND  UNSAVED,'* 
AND  OTHER  WORKS. 


"Remove  not  the  ancient  landmark  which  thy  fathers  have  set." 

Prov.  23:  38, 

"For  I  will  pour  water  upon  him  that  is  thirsty,  and  floods  upon  the 
dry  ground:  I  will  pour  my  spirit  upon  thy  seed,  and  my  blessing  upon 
thine  offspring."  Isa.  4i:3. 


CHICAGO,  ILL., 
S.   B.    SHAW,  PUBLISHER, 
212      214:  W.  CHICAGO,  AVE. 


CX>I»YRlGHTEr>,  X0O-* 
BY 

S.  B.  SHAW. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  L 

Old  Time  Views  of  Sin  and  Depravity.      ♦      .      ♦  6 

CHAPTER  II. 
Old  Time  Conviction  and  Repentance.      ,      ,      .  14 

CHAPTER  III. 
Old  Time  Conversion  28 

CHAPTER  IV. 
Old  Time  Hungering  and  Thirsting  after  Righteousness  36 

CHAPTER  V. 
An  Old  Time  Revival  our  Greatest  Need   .      .      .  53 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Preparation  for  an  Old  Time  Revival      ...  64 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Some  Old  Time  Preachers      .      .      .      .      .  116 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
Old  Time  Revivals         ...      ,      .      .  133 

CHAPTER  IX. 
Old  Time  Revivals  under  James  Caughey.       .      .  148 

CHAPTER  X. 
Old  Time  Revival  in  Ireland       .....  225 


INTRODUCTION. 

For  many  years  I  have  witnessed,  with  a  sad  heart,  the 
great  amount  of  superficial  work  done  in  the  name  of  the 
Christian  reHgion.  Even  among  those  who  manifest  some 
sincerity  of  spirit,  what  a  multitude  are  found  among  the 
"stony  ground"  hearers.  In  how  few  hearts  is  the  fallow 
ground  broken  up  by  deep  conviction  for  sin,  and  thorough 
repentance  and  complete  forsaking  of  all  known  wrong. 

This  book  is  the  result  of  much  prayer  and  burden  of 
intercession  for  a  thorough  and  general  revival  of  pure  and 
undefiled  religion — a  revival  in  which  all  minor  differences 
of  creed  and  opinion  are  lost  sight  of  and  the  hearts  of  God's 
children  united  in  the  work  of  rescuing  lost  souls  by  the  tear- 
ing down  of  the  strongholds  of  Satan  and  the  upbuilding 
of  Christ's  kingdom  among  men.  I  pray  that  it  may  be 
greatly  used  of  God  in  helping  to  prepare  the  way  for  such 
St  *^time  of  refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord." 

In  the  gathering  together  of  material  suited  to  my  pur- 
pose, I  have  found  so  much  that  was  exceedingly  valuable 
that  I  have  decided  to  publish  this  "abridged  edition" — suited 
to  general  and  rapid  circulation — to  be  followed  by  a  com- 
plete edition  to  be  published  in  two  or  more  larger  volumes 
which  I  believe  will  be  found  very  helpful  and  exceedingly 
interesting  to  earnest  Christians  who  have  not  their 
command  the  excellent  works  (most  of  them  now  largely 
or  entirely  out  of  print)  from  which  I  have  quoted. 

Yours  for  souls, 

S.  B.  SHAW. 

Chicago,  March,  1904., 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


CHAPTER  I. 


OLD  TIME  VIEWS  OF  SIN  AND  DEPRAVITY. 


And  God  saw  that  the  wickedness  of  man  was  great  in  the  earth,  and  thdt 
every  imagination  of  the  thoughts  of  his  heart  was  only  evil  continually.  Gen. 
6:  5. 

The  Lord  looked  down  from  heaven  upon  the  children  of  men,  to  see  if  there 
■  were  any  that  did  understand,  and  seek  God.  They  are  all  gone  aside,  they  are 
all  together  become  filthy;  there  is  none  that  doeth  good,  no,  not  one.  Psa.  2,  3. 

Behold,  I  was  shapen  in  iniquity;  and  in  sin  did  my  mother  conceive  me. 
Psa.  51:  5. 

The  heart  is  deceitful  above  all  things,  and  desperately  wicked:  who  can  know 
it?  Jer.  17:  19.   

The  way  of  the  wicked  is  as  darkness:  they  know  not  at  what  they  stumble. 
Prov.  4:  19. 

For  out  of  the  heart  proceed  evil  thoughts,  murders,  adulteries,  fornications, 
thefts,   false  witness,   blasphemies.   Matt.   IS".  19. 

For  from  within,  out  of  the  heart  of  men,  proceed  evil  thoughts,  adulteries, 
fornications,  murders,  thefts,  covetousness,  wickedness,  deceit,  lasciviousness,  an 
evil  eye,  blasphemy,  pride,  foolishness:  all  these  evil  things  come  from  within, 
and  defile  the  man.    Marie  7:  21-1^3. 

No  language  can  describe  the  awful  curse  of  sin.  The 
human  mind  is  unable  to  realize  the  terrible  penalty  that 
is  visited  upon  this  earth  because  of  man's  disobedience, 
to  say  nothing  of  the  eternal  punishment  of  the  wicked. 

Well  may  this  world  be  called  a  *Vale  of  tears."  From 
the  fall  of  Adam,  humanity  has  been  born  weeping  and 
crying;  for  we  are  shapen  in  iniquity  and  conceived  in 
sin  (Psa.  51:5);  and  the  inevitable  consequences  of  sin  are 
disease  and  suffering  and  agony  and  death.  From  the 
beginning,  ''the  wrath  of  God  has  been  revealed  from 
heaven  against  all  ungodliness  and  unrighteousness  of 
men ;"  and  in  justice  he  has  declared,  "Whatsoever  a  man 
soweth,  that  shall  he  also  reap."  In  all  ages  of  the  world, 
in  spite  of  God's  offers  of  mercy,  multitudes  have  sown 


6 


OLD  TIME  RELIGI<3N. 


to  the  wind  and  have  reaped  the  whirl-wind,  and  millions 
are  doing  it  today.  No  ear  but  the  ear  of  God  can  hear, 
no  eye  but  the  eye  of  God  can  see,  no  heart  but  the  heart 
of  God  can  comprehend,  the  pain,  agony  and  wretched- 
ness of  desolate  souls  whose  lives  are  today  blasted  by 
sin. 

Nor  is  this  all.  Millions  of  moral  and  physical  wrecks 
are  floating  down  the  river  of  death  to  suffering  greater 
tlian  they  have  ever  known,  or  ever  can  be  known  in  this 
life.  Ten  thousand  times  ten  thousand  more  of  broken 
hearted  sinners,  whose  lives  have  been  blasted  by  the 
drunkard,  the  harlot,  the  outcast — who  are  filling  the  poor- 
house,  the  jail,  the  prison,  and  the  insane  asylum,  are  get- 
ting ready  for  a  rapid  march  to  the  lake  of  fire :  and  mil- 
lions of  unborn  infants  will  take  their  place  and  follow 
in  their  steps  in  the  near  future.  And  their  names  are 
legion  who  are  bewailing  the  wrath  of  God  as  revealed 
by  the  pestilence,  by  the  famine,  by  the  flood,  by  the 
earthquake,  by  the  cyclone  and  the  tornado,  and  by  the 
many  wars,  where  humanity  is  butchered  until  rivers  of 
blood  are  flowing  from  the  field  of  battle,  and  the  cries  of 
the  wounded  and  dying  rend  the  very  heavens. 

And  is  all  this  suffering  a  merely  arbitrary  penalty 
inflicted  by  an  angry  God  for  disobedience  to  arbitrary 
law?  Nay,  verily.  All  this  woe,  all  this  misery,  all  wretch- 
edness of  body  and  mind,  is  the  inevitable  consequence 
of  the  violation  of  the  holy  laws  of  a  holy  God,  so  inevita- 
ble that  God  himself  could  provide  no  way  of  deliverance 
from  the  power  and  curse  of  sin  only  through  sacrifice — 
sacrifice  so  great  that  the  angels  of  God  look  on  with 
wonder  and  amazement,  sacrifice  that  nothing  short  of 
infinite  love  would  ever  have  made. 


SIN  AND  DEt'RAVITY. 


7 


It  was  the  knowledge  of  the  awful  and  eternal  con- 
sequences of  sm,  that  moved  the  heart  of  God  with  such 
infinite  pity  that  He  was  willing  to  sacrifice  the  bright- 
est jewel  of  Heaven  even  his  only  begotten  Son,  the  Lamb 
of  God  slain  from  the  foundation  of  the  world,  whose 
suffering  began  when  sin  entered  into  the  world  and  will 
endure  until  sin  is  swept  from  the  face  of  the  earth,  in 
order  that  we  might  escape  the  awful  suffering  that  sin 
brings  both  in  time  and  eternity. 

Old-time  religion  has  its  very  foundation  in  a  scrip- 
tural view  of  the  sinfulness  of  sin,  and  all  thorough  re- 
vivals have  been  characterized  in  their  very  beginnings 
by  a  stirring  up  of  the  people  to  see  themselves  justly 
condemned  to  eternal  death.  The  acknowledged  shal- 
lownesss  of  Modern  Christianity  is,  we  believe,  largely 
due  to  the  fact  that  ministers  of  the  gospel  have  so  sadly 
failed  to  know  and  to  preach  the  "terror  of  the  Lord." 
(vSee  2  Cor.  5 :  11.) 

A  sick  man,  in  order  to  rightly  value  and  appreciate 
a  cure,  needs  to  understand  the  nature  and  danger  of  his 
disease.  Just  so  fallen  humanity,  in  order  to  rightly  value 
and  appreciate  the  plan  of  salvation,  must  have  a  knowl- 
edge of  sin  and  its  consequences.  No  man  can  rightly 
value  the  redemption  of  Christ  who  has  not  seen  him- 
self lost  and  undone  and  absolutely  without  hope  outside 
of  the  atonement  of  Calvary.  The  great  results  that  fol- 
lowed Jonathan  Edward's  sermon  "Sinners  in  the  Hands 
of  an  Angry  God"  preached  from  the  text  "Their  foot 
shall  slide  in  due  time,  for  the  day  of  their  calamity  is  at 
hand,  and  the  things  that  shall  come  upon  them  make 
haste,"  show  how  God  will  honor  the  work  of  a  faithful 
minister  who  in  love,  and  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  fails  not  to 


8 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


declare  the  whole  counsel  of  God.  The  sinfulness  of  sin ! 
The  depravity  of  depravity!  Who  can  coniprehend  them? 
Would  you  see  them  in  their  true  light?  Then  withdraw 
from  the  world  the  restraining  grace  of  God  and  all  in- 
fluence of  the  atonement  of  Christ !  In  one  hour  you 
would  have  a  hell  upon  earth.  Humanity  without  the 
grace  of  God,  is  as  corrupt,  as  degraded,  as  the  inhabi- 
tants of  hell  itself!  Does  the  statement  need  any  proof? 
It  is  found  in  the  incontrovertible  fact  that  the  seed  of 
all  sin  is  found  in  every  unregenerate  heart  and  that  seed, 
when  allowed  to  grow  unrestrained,  has  made  human  be- 
ings actually  guilty  both  in  thought  and  deed  of  the  vilest 
and  most  heartless  and  cruel  deeds  which  it  is  possible 
for  mind  to  conceive. 


SELECTION  FROM  FLETCHER'S  APPEAL. 


In  every  religion  there  is  a  principal  truth  or  error, 
which  like  the  first  link  of  a  chain,  necessarily  draws 
after  it  all  the  parts  with  which  it  is  essentially  connect- 
ed. The  leading  principal  in  Christianity,  distinguished 
from  deism,  is  the  doctrine  of  our  corrupt  and  lost  estate ; 
for  if  man  is  not  at  variance  with  his  Creator,  what  need 
of  a  Mediator  between  God  and  him?  If  he  is  not  a 
depraved,  undone  creature,  what  necessity  of  so  wonder- 
ful a  Restorer  and  Savior  as  the  Son  of  God?  If  he  is 
not  enslaved  to  sin,  why  is  he  redeemed  by  Jesus  Christ? 
If  he  is  not  polluted,' why  must  he  be  washed  in  the  blood 
of  that  immaculate  Lamb?  If  his  soul  is  not  disordered, 
what  occasion  is  there  for  such  a  divine  Physician?  If 
he  is  not  helpless  and  miserable,  why  is  he  perpetually 
invited  to  secure  the  assistance  and  consolation  of  the 


^IN  AND  DEPRAVITY. 


9 


Holy  Spirit?  and,  in  a  word,  if  he  is  not  born  in  sin,  why 
is  a  new  birth  so  absokitely  necessary,  that  Christ  de- 
clares with  the  most  solemn  asservations,  without  it  no 
man  can  see  the  kingdom  of  God? 

This  doctrine  then  being  of  such  -importance,  that 
genuine  Christianity  stands  or  falls  with  itj  it  may  be 
proper  to  state  it  at  large :  and  as  this  cannot  be  done 
in  stronger  and  plainer  words,  than  those  of  the  sacred 
writers,  and  our  pious  reformers :  I  beg  leave  to  collect 
them,  and  present  the  reader  with  a  picture  of  our  nat- 
ural estate,  drawn  at  full  length  by  those  ancient  and 
masterly  hands. 

I.  Moses,  who  informs  us,  that  God  created  man  in 
his  own  image  and  likeness,  soon  casts  a  shade  upon  his 
original  dignity,  by  giving  us  a  sad  account  of  his  fall. 
He  represents  him  after  his  disobedience,  as  a  criminal 
under  sentence  of  death;  a  wretch  filled  with  guilt,  shame, 
dread  and  horror; -and  a  vagabond,  turned  out  of  a  lost 
paradise  into  a  cursed  wilderness,  where  all  bears  the 
stamp  of  desolation  for  his  sake.  (Gen.  3 :  17.)  In  con- 
sequence of  this  apostasy  he  died,  and  all  die  in  him :  for 
by  one  man  sin  entered  the  world,  and  death  by  sin;  and 
so  death  passed  upon  all  men,  for  that  all  have  sinned  in 
him,  who  was  all  mankind  seminally  and  federally  collect- 
ed in  one  individual,    i  Cor.  15:  22.    Rom.  5:  12. 

The  sacred  historian,  having  informed  us  how  the  first 
man  was  corrupted,  observes  that  he  begat  a  son  in  his 
own  image,  sinful  and  mortal  like  himself;  that  his  first- 
born was  a  murderer ;  that  Abel  himself  offered  sacrifices 
to  avert  divine  wrath,  and  that  the  violent  temper  of 
Cain  soon  broke  out  in  all  the  human  species.  The  earth, 
says  he,  was  filled  with  violence,  all  flesh  had  corrupted^ 


10 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


its  way — and  God  saw  the  wickedness  of  man  was  great  in 
the  earth,  so  great,  that  every  imagination  of  the  thoughts 
of  his  heart  was  only  evil,  continually.  Only  evil — with- 
out any  mixture  of  good :  and  continually — without  any 
intermission  of  the  evil.    Gen.  6:  5. 

When  the  deluge  was  over,  the  Lord  himself  gave  the 
same  account  of  his  obstinately  rebellious  creature.  The 
imagination  of  man's  heart,  said  he  to  Noah,  is  evil  from 
his  youth.  Gen.  8:  21.  Job's  friends  paint  us  with  the 
same  colors :  one  of  them  observes,  that  man  is  born  like 
the  wild  ass's  colt;  and  another,  that  he  is  abominable 
and  filthy,  and  drinks  iniquity  like  water.  Job  ii:  12, 
and  15 :  16. 

David  doth  not  alter  the  hideous  portrait:  the  Lord, 
says  he,  looked  down  from  heaven  upon  the  children 
of  men ;  to  see  if  there  were  any  that  did  understand  and 
seek  God.  And  the  result  of  the  divine  inspection  is :  they 
are  all  gone  aside,  they  are  altogether  become  filthy: 
there  is  none  that  doeth  good,  no  not  one.  Psalm,  14:  2. 
Solomon  gives  a  finishing  stroke  to  his  father's  draught, 
by  informing  us,  that  foolishness  is  bound  in  the  heart  of 
a  child,  and  not  of  a  child  only,  for  he  adds.  The  heart  of 
the  sons  of  men  is  full  of  evil,  and  while  they  live,  mad- 
ness is  in  their  heart.   Prov.  22:  15.    Eccl.  9:  3. 

Isaiah  corroborates  the  assertions  of  the  royal  proph- 
ets, in  the  following  mournful  confession:  All  we,  like 
sheep  have  gone  astray — we  are  all  as  an  unclean  thing, 
and  all  our  righteousnesses  are  as  filthy  rags.  Isa.  53: 
6,  and  54:  6. 

Jeremiah  confirms  the  deplorable  truth,  where  he  says : 
The  sin  of  Judah  is  written  with  a  pen  of  iron,  and  with 
the  point  of  a  diamond ;  it  is  graven  upon  the  tables  of 


SWT  AND  DEPRAVITY. 


11 


their  heart — O  Jerusalem,  wash  thy  heart  from  wicked- 
ness, that  thou  mayest  be  saved — For  the  heart  is  deceit- 
ful above  all  things,  and  desperately  wicked :  Who  can 
know  it?  Jer.  4:  14,  and  17:  .1,  9. 

Thus  the  prophets  delineate  mankind  in  a  natural,  im- 
penitent state.  And  do  the  apostles  dip  their  pencil  in 
brighter  colors?  Let  them  speak  for  themselves.  The 
chief  of  them  informs  us  that  the  natural  unrenewed  man 
receives  not  the  things  of  the  Spirit  of  God  and  that  they 
are  foolishness  to  him.  i  Cor.  2:  14.  And  he  lays  it 
down  as  matter  of  fact,  that  the  carnal  mind,  the  taste 
and  disposition  of  every  unregenerate  person  is  not  only 
averse  to  goodness,  but  enmity  itself  against  God,  the 
adorable  fountain  of  all  excellence.  A  blacker  line  can 
hardly  be  drawn,  to  describe  a  fallen  diabolical  nature. 
Rom.  8 :  7. 

Various  are  the  names  which  the  apostle  of  the  Gen- 
tiles gives  to  our  original  corruption ;  and  they  are  all  ex- 
pressive of  its  pernicious  nature,  and  dreadful  effects.  He 
calls  it  emphatically,  sin,  a  sin  so  full  of  activity  and  ener- 
gy that  it  is  the  life  and  spring  of  all  others : — Indwelling 
sin,  a  sin  which  is  not  like  the  leaves  and  fruits  of  a  bad 
tree,  that  appear  for  a  time  and  then  drop  off;  but  like  the 
sap  that  dwells  and  works  within,  always  ready  to  break 
OMt  at  every  bud : — The  body  of  sin,  because  it  is  an  as- 
semblage of  all  possible  sins  in  embyro,  as  our  body  is 
an  assemblange  of  all  the  members  which  constitute  the 
human  frame : — The  law  of  sin  and  the  law  in  our  mem- 
bers, because  it  hath  a  constraining  force,  and  rules  in 
our  mortal  bodies,  as  a  mighty  tyrant  in  the  kingdom 
which  he  hath  usurped : — The  old  man,  because  we  have 
it  from  the  first  man,  Adam;  and  because  it  is  as  old  as 


12 


OLD  TIME  RELIGIOI^. 


the  first  stamina  of  our  frame,  with  which  it  is  most  close- 
ly interwoven; — The  flesh,  as  being  propagated  by  carnal 
generation,  and  always  opposing  the  Spirit,  the  gracious 
principle,  w^hich  we  have  from  Adam  the  second. — And 
concupiscence,  that  mystic  Jezebel,  who  brings  forth  the 
infinite  variety  of  fleshly,  worldly,  and  mental  lusts,  which 
war  against  the  soul. 

Nor  are  St.  James  and  St.  John  less  severe  than  St. 
Paul,  upon  the  unconverted  man.  The  one  observes,  that 
his  wisdom,  the  best  property  naturally  belonging  to  him, 
descendeth  not  from  above,  but  is  earthly,  sensual,  and 
devilish :  and  the  other  positively  declares ;  that  the  whole 
world  Heth  in  wickedness.  Jam.  3:  15;  i  John  5:  19. 

Our  Lord,  whose  spirit  inspired  the  prophets  and  apos- 
tles, confirms  their  lamentable  testimony.  To  make  us 
seriously  consider  sin,  our  mortal  disease,  he  reminds  us, 
that  the  whole  have  no  need  of  a  physician,  but  they  that 
are  sick.  Luke  5:  31.  He  declares,  that  men  love  dark- 
ness rather  than  light.  That  the  world  hates  him;  and 
that  its  works  are  evil.  John  3:  19  and  15:  18,  and  8:  7. 
He  directs  all  to  pray  for  the  pardon  of  sin,  as  being  evil, 
and  owing  ten  thousands  talents  to  their  heavenly  credi- 
tor. Matt.  6:  12;  7:  11;  18:  24.  And  he  assures  us, 
that  the  things,  which  defile  the  man,  come  from  within; 
and  that  out  of  the  heart  proceed  evil  thoughts,  adulter- 
ies, fornications,  murders,  thefts,  covetousness,  wicked- 
ness, deceit,  lasciviousness,  an  evil  eye,  blasphemy,  pride, 
foolishness,  and  in  a  word,  all  moral  evil.  Mark  7:  21; 
Matt  15 :  19. 

Some  indeed  confine  what  the  scriptures  say  of  the 


SIN  AND  DEPRAVITY, 


13 


depravity  of  the  human  heart  to  the  abandoned  heathens 
and  persecuting  Jews ;  as  if  the  professors  of  mprahty  and 
Christianity  were  not  concerned  in  the  dreadful  charge. 
But  if  the  apostoHc  writings  afifirm  that  Christ  came  not 
to  call  the  righteous,  but  sinners ;  that  he  died  for  the 
ungodly ;  and  that  he  suffered,  the  just  for  the  unjust ;  it 
is  plain  that,  unless  he  did  not  suffer  and  die  for  moral 
men  and  Christians  they  are  by  nature  sinners,  ungodly, 
and  unjust  as  the  rest  of  mankind.  Rom.  5 :  6;  i  Pet.  3 :  18. 

If  this  assertion  seems  severe,  let  some  of  the  best 
men  that  ever  lived,  decide  the  point,  not  by  the  experi- 
ence of  immoral  persons,  but  by  their  own.  I  abhor  my- 
self, says  Job,  and  repent  in  dust  and  ashes.  Job.  43 :  6. 
Behold,  I  was  shapen  in  iniquity,  says  David,  and  in  sin 
did  my  mother  conceive  me.  Ps.  51 :  5.  Woe  is  me  for  I 
am  undone,  says  Isaiah,  because  I  am  a  man  of  unclean 
lips.  Isa.  6:5.  I  know,  says  St.  Paul,  that  in  me,  that  is 
in  my  flesh,  dwelleth  no  good  thing.  Rom.  7:  18.  We 
ourselves,  says  he  to  Titus,  were  sometimes  foolish,  dis- 
obedient, deceived,  serving  divers  lusts  and  pleasures,  liv- 
ing in  malice  and  envy,  hateful  and  hating  one  another. 
Tit.  3 :  3.  And  speaking  of  himself,  and  the  Christians  at 
Ephesus,  he  leaves  upon  record,  this  memorable  sentence : 
We  were  by  nature  the  children  of  wrath  even  as  others. 
Eph.  2:  3.  Such  humbling  thoughts  have  the  best  of 
men  entertained,  both  of  their  natural  estate,  and  them- 
selves ! 

FROM  JOHN  ARNDT'S  TRUE  CHRISTIANITY. 

(John  Arndt  was  born  in  Ball  Endstadt,  Germany,  in  1855,  and  died  in 
1621.  His  writings  were  translated  jnto  ail  European  languages  and  were  greatly 
UBcd  of  God.) 


CHAPTER  IT. 


OLD  TIME  CONVICTION  AND  REPENTANCE. 


Bring  forth  therefore  fruits  meet  for  repentance:  Matt.  3:  8. 

For  godly  sorrow  worketh  repentance  to  salvation  not  to  be  repeated  of:  bu€ 
the  sorrow  of  the  world  worketh  death.     2  Cor.  7:  10. 

And  saying,  The  time  is  fulfilled,  and  the  kingdom  of  God  is  at  hand;  repent 
ye,  and  believe  the  gospel.    Mark  1:  15. 

And  that  repentance  and  remission  of  sins  should  be  preached  in  his  name 
among  all  nations,   begining  at  Jerusalem.     Luke  24:  47. 

Repent  ye  therefore,  and  be  converted,  that  your  sins  may  be  blotted  out, 
when  the  times  of  refreshing  shall  come  from  the  presence  ot  the  Lord:  Acts  3:  19. 

Remember  therefore  from  whence  thou  art  fallen,  and  repent,  and  do  the 
first  works;  or  else  I  will  come  unto  thee  quickly,  and  will  remove  thy  candle- 
stick out  of  his  place,  except  thou  repent.    Rev.  2:  5. 

Remember  therefore  how  thou  hast  received  and  heard,  and  hold  fast,  and 
repent.  If  therefore  thou  shalt  not  watch,  1  will  come  on  thee  as  a  thief,  and 
thou  shalt  not  know  what  hour  I  will  come  upon  thee.    Rev.  3:  3. 

God  is  not  pleased  with  superficial  work  on  any"  line. 
He  loves  thoroughness  and  when  He  is  given  the  right 
of  way  in  any  heart,  deep  thorough  work  will  be  the  re- 
sult. Conviction  for  sin  is  the  first  work  of  God's  Spirit 
upon  the  heart.  All  knowledge  of  sin  and  all  conscious- 
ness of  guilt  and  danger  and  all  true  sense  of  spiritual  need 
are^  included  in  conviction ;  and  whether  present  in  the 
heart  in  greater  or  less  degree,  are  from  God  and  designed 
of  God  to  lead  the  soul  to  true  repentance. 

God's  Spirit  is  given  to  reprove  the  whole  world  of 
sin  and  of  righteousness  and  of  judgment ;  (See  John  i6:  8) 
and  to  every  soul  held  accountable  before  God,  sufficient 
light  is  given  to  point  out  a  way  of  escape  from  the  penalty 
for  sin:  ''For  the  grace  of  God  that  bringeth  salvation 
hath  appeared  to  all  men,  teaching  us  that,  denying  un- 
godliness and  worldly  lusts,  we  should  hve  soberly,  right- 
eously, and  godly,  in  this  present  world."  (See  Titus  2:11, 
12.) 

But  it  is  the  will  of  God  that  conviction  should  be  not 


CONVICTION  AND  REPENTANCE. 


15 


only  real  but  deep  and  pungent — that  the  soul  should  have 
a  deep  and  awful  sense  of  its  danger  and  need  together 
with  strong  movings  of  the  Spirit  to  repentance  and  the 
God-ordained  means  for  bringing  this  about  are  the  faith- 
ful teaching  and  preaching  of  the  word  in  the  power  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  the  Christ-like  example  of  the  godly,  and  the 
direct  moving  of  the  Holy  Spirit  given,  in  greater  meas- 
ure, in  answer  to  the  prayers  of  God's  people.  Thus  the 
measure  of  light  and  conviction  given  to  hearts,  at  least 
generally  speaking,  depends  very  largely  upon  the  faithful- 
ness and  devotion  of  the  people  of  God.  It  is  the  duty  of 
God's  people  and  ministers  to  so  faithfully  declare  the 
truth  of  God  and  so  faithfully  exemplify  the  grace  of  God 
and  to  so  earnestly  intercede  with  God,  that  those  with 
whom  they  are  brought  in  contact  shall  be  compelled  not 
only  to  know  but  to  deeply  feel  the  sinfulness  and  dan- 
ger of  rebellion  against  Him,  having  clear  views  of  the 
teaching  and  requirements  of  the  Word. 

Where  the  church  of  God  is  free  from  worldliness  and 
sin,  and  conformed  to  all  the  will  of  God,  the  standard 
of  what  a  Christian  should  be,  even  in  the  minds  of  the 
unsaved,  will  be  correspondingly  high;  and  thus  even  the 
fully  awakened  soul  will  clearly  see  the  evils  of  worldly 
conformity  and  worldly  allegiance  and  to  such  there  will  be 
little  need  of  especial  exhortation  regarding  the  evils  of 
worldly  amusements  or  worldly  conformity  in  dress  or  of 
the  card  table,  the  dance,  the  theater  and  the  secret  lodge, 
and  of  the  evils  of  indulgence  in  tobacco  or  intoxicating 
drink,  or  of  exhortation  to  "provide  things  honest  in  the 
sight  of  all  men."  Old-time  conviction,  to  say  nothing 
of  saving  grace,  would  throw  a  flood  of  light  upon  the 
worldliness  and  dishonesty  of  even  so-called  good  society 


16 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


that  would  sweep  away  the  refuge  of  lies  and  leave  thou- 
sands of  professors  of  religion  to  see  themselves  still  in 
the  gall  of  bitterness  and  the  bonds  of  iniquity. 

Repentance  is  a  godly  sorrow  for  sin  that  will  follow 
conviction  in  every  heart  when  the  will  is  yielded  to  God. 
It  always  includes  the  forsaking  of  every  known  sin  and  a 
pledge  of  the  soul  to  henceforth  walk  in  obedience  to  Him. 
How  much  this  will  be  understood  to  involve,  will  depend 
very  largely  upon  the  degree  of  light  which  was  shone 
on  the  heart  in  conviction ;  so  that  "old  time  repentance'' 
will  depend  upon  "old  time  conviction." 

Bishop  Bull  of  the  church  of  England,  in  his  work, 
Harmonia  Apostohcathees,  defines  Repentance  thus: 
'^Now,  repentance  is  not  one  work  alone,  but  is,  as  it 
were,  a  collection  of  many  others ;  for  in  its  compass  the 
following  works  are  comprehended:  i.  Sorrow  on  ac- 
count of  sin.  2.  Humiliation  under  the  hand  of  God.  3. 
Hatred  of  sin.  4.  Confession  of  sin.  5.  Ardent  suppli- 
cation of  the  divine  mercy.  6.  The  love  of  God.  7. 
Ceasing  from  sin.  8.  Firm  purpose  of  new  obedience.  9. 
Restitution  of  ill  gotten  goods.  10.  Forgiving  our  neigh- 
bor his  transgressions  against  us.  II.  Works  of  benef- 
icence or  alms  giving. 

If  his  definition  be  sound  and  scriptural,  and  who  can 
say  it  is  not,  what  shall  be  said  of  the  ordinary  preach- 
ing or  lack  of  preaching  on  this  subject?  Certainly  no  man 
can  be  said  to  have  truly  repented  of  his  sin 
until  he  is  willing  to  confess  that  sin  to  the  one  he  has 
wronged  and  to  make  restitution  so  far  as  is  in  his  power. 
John  the  Baptist  preaching  the  baptism  of  repentance  for 
the  remission  of  sins,  was  declared  to  be  "The  voice  of 
one  crying  in  the  wilderness,  Prepare  ye  the  way  of  the 


CONVICTION  AND  REl^ENTANCE. 


17 


Lord,  make  his  paths  straight.  Every  valley  shall  be 
filled,  and  every  mountain  and  hill  shall  be  brought  low; 
and  the  crooked  shall  be  made  straight,  and  the  rough  ways 
shall  be  made  smooth;"  and  his  own  explanation  of  his 
meaning  is  found  in  his  words,  "Bring  forth  therefore 
fruits  meet  for  repentance"  and  "He  that  hath  two  Coats 
let  him  im'part  to  him  that  hath  none;  and  he  that  hath 
meat,  let  him  do  likewise." 

Zacchaeus  evidenced  the  depth  and  reality  of  his  re- 
pentance when  he  said  to  Jesus,  "Behold,  Lord,  the  half 
of  my  goods  I  give  to  the  poor ;  and  if  I  have  taken  any- 
thing from  any  man  by  false  accusation,  I  restore  him 
fourfold."  And  to  him  Jesus  answered  :  "This  day  is  salva- 
tion come  to  this  house." 

And  if  he  who  has  wronged  his  neighbor  in  dollars 
and  cents  cannot  find  peace  with  God  until  restitution  i^ 
made,  or  promised,  what  shall  be  said  of  those — even 
though  they  be  professors  of  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ 
— who  have  wronged  their  neighbor  or  their  brother  by 
talebearing  or  by  back  biting  or  by  unjust  judgment  and 
false  accusation,  or  by  careless  and  mistaken  charges,  and 
yet  refuse  to  humble  themselves  and  so  far  as  possible 
right  the  awful  wrong  they  may  have  done  ?  Even  Shakes- 
peare said: 

"Who  steals  m}'  purse,  steals  trash:  'tis  something,  nothing; 
'Twas  mine,  'tis  his,  and  has  been  slave  to  thousands; 
But  he  that  filches  from  me  my  good  name, 
Robs  me  of  that,  which  not  enriches  him, 
And  makes  me  poor  indeed." 

And  it  will  but  little  avail  for  him  who  has  thus  wronged 
another  to  say:  "O  well,  if  he  is  all  right  anything  I  can 
say  will  not  hurt  him.  God  will  take  care  of  his  influence." 
Said  not  the  Savior,  "But  whoso  shall  offend  one  of  these 
little  ones  which  believe  in  me,  it  were  better  for  him  that 


18 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


a  millstone  were  hanged  about  his  neck,  and  that  he  were 
drowned  in  the  depth  of  the  sea.  Woe  unto  the  world 
because  of  offences!  for  it  must  needs  be  that  offences 
come;  but. woe  to  that  man  by  whom  the  offence  com- 
eth!  Wherefore  if  thy  hand  or  thy  foot  offend  thee,  cut 
them  off,  and  cast  them  from  thee:  it  is  better  for  thee 
to  enter  into  life  halt  or  maimed,  rather  than  having  two 
hands  or  two  feet  to  be  cast  into  everlasting  fire.  And 
if  thine  eye  offend  thee,  pluck  it  out,  and  cast  it  from 
thee:  it  is  better  for  thee  to  enter  into  life  with  one 
eye,  rather  than  having  two  eyes  to  be  cast  into  hell  fire/' 
(See  also  Luke  17:  1-5.) 

Surely  when  the  Holy  Ghost  is  honored,  the  seeker 
after  God  will  not  only  hear  the  divine  call  but  will  be 
enabled  to  understand  it  and  to  know  what  God  requires. 
"Today  if  ye  will  hear  his  voice,  harden  not  your  heart," 
that  is,  give  God  your  undivided  attention;  hearken  dili- 
gently to  all  He  says  in  his  word,  by  his  providence  and 
by  his  Spirit,  for  if  thine  eye  be  single  thy  whole  body 
shall  soon  be  full  of  light  (See  Matt.  6 :  22)  and  you  will 
soon  know  that  godly  sorrow  which  ''worketh  repentance 
to  salvation  not  to  be  repented  of."   (2  Cor.  7:  10.) 

Godly  sorrow  for  sin  will  destroy  all  love  of,  or  desire 
for  anything  that  is  unholy  and  create  an  utter  hatred 
for  everything  that  is  impure  or  unclean.  The  penitent 
sinner  that  has  been  deeply  awakened  to  realize  his  lost 
condition  will  mourn  over  his  wicked  thoughts  until  his 
heart  of  hearts  will  bleed  at  every  pore  and  break  with 
grief.  "The  Lord  is  nigh  unto  them  that  are  of  a  broken 
heart ;  and  saveth  such  as  be  of  a  contrite  spirit."  (Psa.  34 : 
18.)  "The  sacrifices  of  God  are  a  broken  spirit:  a  broken 
and  a  contrite  heart,  O  God,  thou  wilt  not  despise."  (Psa. 


CONVICTION  AND  REPENTANCE. 


19 


51:17.) 

Adam  Clarke  in  commenting  on  the  first  of  these  scrip- 
tures says  that  the  literal  meaning  of  the  words  translated 
''a  broken  heart"  is  ''a  heart  broken  to  shivers"  and  of  the 
words  translated  "a  contrite  spirit"  is  ''the  beaten-ouf  spir- 
it" and  then  adds :  "In  both  words  the  hammer  is  neces- 
sarily implied ;  in  breaking  to  pieces  the  ore  first,  and  then 
plating  out  the  metal  when  it  has  been  separated  from  the 
ore.  This  will  call  to  the  reader's  remembrance  Jeremiah 
23 :  29 :  'Is  not  my  word  like  as  a  fire,  saith  the  Lord  ?  And 
like  a  hammer  that  breaketh  the  rock  in  pieces?'  The 
breaking  to  shivers,  and  beating  out,  are  metaphorical 
expressions :  so  are  the  hammer  and  the  rock.  What  the 
large  hammer  struck  on  a  rock  by  a  powerful  hand  would 
do,  so  does  the  word  of  the  Lord  when  struck  on  the  sin- 
ner's heart  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  The  broken 
heart  and  the  contrite  spirit,  are  two  essential  characteris- 
tics of  true  repentance." 

The  broken-hearted  man  has  lost  all  his  relish  for  and 
hbpe  in  the  world.  His  former  hopes  and  ambitions  are 
broken  up  and  destroyed.  The  fallow  ground  of  his  heart  is 
broken  up  and  he  realizes  that  he  has  "plowed  wickedness" 
and  "reaped  iniquity"  and  "eaten  the  fruit  of  Hes"  and 
trusted  in  his  own  way,  but  now  he  begins  to  obey  the 
command:  "Sow  to  yourselves  in  righteousness,  reap  in 
mercy;  break  up  your  fallow  ground;  for  it  is  time  to 
seek  the  Lord,  till  he  come  and  rain  righteousness  upon  you 
(Ho'sea  10:  12,  13.)  Fallow  ground  is  ground  left  un- 
tilled  or  but  slightly  plowed.  It  is  the  will  of  God  by  the 
Holy  Spirit  to  break  up  the  great  deep  of  the  heart  and 
plow  through  and  unearth  everything  that  is  unlike  God ; 
and  this  He  will  do  if  it  is  also  the  will  of  him„  that  seeks 


20 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


His  favorrAnd  upon  the  depth  and  and  thoroughness  of 
this  preparatory  work  future  results  must  largely  depend. 
He  who  would  receive  the  rain  of  righteousness  must  pre- 
pare the  way  of  the  Lord  by  forsaking  every  known  sin 
and,  so  far  as  possible,  making  right  every  wrong  that 
he  has  committed  against  God  or  man. 

The  good  ground  to  which  reference  is  made  in  the 
parable  of  the  sower.  ((See  Matt.  13.)  was  ground  that  had 
been  thoroughly  broken  up  and  made  free  from  stones  and 
thorns,  leaving  the  earth  ready  for  the  seed  and  for  the 
rain,  with  nothing  left  to  hinder  growth  and  fruit-bearing. 

Just  so  the  Holy  Gh'ost  prepares  the  heart  of  the  true 
penitent  and  helps  him  to  forsake  every  idol  and  every 
sinful  practice  and  desire  and  every  unholy  passion  and 
seek  first  the  kingdom  of  God  and  His  righteousness ;  and 
when  he  thus  seeks  God  with  his  whole  heart,  He  will 
be  found  of  him.   (See  Deut.  4:  29,  and  Jer.  29:  13.) 

FROM  TRUE  CHRISTIANITY  BY  JOHN  ARNDT. 

''To  repent,  is  to  feel  and  acknowledge  the  natural 
blindness,  corruption  ,and  detestable  impurity  festering 
within  us,  as  the  very  source  of  all  sin,  whereby  we  de- 
part from  God,  the  supreme  and  eternal  Good,  and  deserve, 
besides  temporal  punishments,  his  everlasting  wrath  in  the 
inextinguishable  flames  of  hell. 

It  is  to  lament,  and  from  the  bottom  of  our  hearts  to 
bewail,  the  deplorable  crookedness  of  our  nature ;  and  this 
from  an  inward  sense  of  the  heinousness  of  our  provoca- 
tions, offered  to  so  merciful  a  Father. 

Let  us  now  consider  the  manner  of  our  returning  to 
God :  ''With  all  the  heart,  (says  the  prophet,)  with  fasting, 


CONVICTION  AND  REPENTANCE. 


21 


with  weeping,  and  with  mourning."  Wretched  mortals  can 
weep  floods  of  tears  for  empty  and  perishing  goods,  whilst 
they  remain  unmoved  at  the  miserable  state  of  their  souls., 
and  the  loss  of  eternal  goods:  being  therein  altogether 
unlike  David,  who  sets  a  shining  pattern  of  sincere  repen- 
tance before  us,  "For  the  Lord  looketh  on  the  heart,  and 
trieth  the  heart  and  reins." 

FROM  DISCOURSE  BY  JOHN  BUNYAN  ON  "COME 
AND  WELCOME  TO  JESUS  CHRIST." 

Take  two)  or  three  things  to  make  this  more  plain — to 
wit,  that  coming  to  Christ  floweth  from  a  sound  sense  of  the 
absolute  need  that  a  man  hath  of  him,  as  afore. 

"They  shall  come  with  weeping,  and  with  supplication 
will  I  lead  them;  I  will  cause  them  to  walk  by  rivers  of 
waters  in  a  plain  way,  wherein  they  shall  not  stumble." 
Jer.  31 :  9.  Mind  it  they  come  with  weeping,  and  sup- 
plication. They  come  with  prayers  and  tears.  Now 
prayers  and  tears  are  the  effects  of  a  right  sense  of  the 
need  of  mercy.  Thus,  a  senseless  sinner  cannot  come,  he 
cannot  pray,  he  cannot  cry,  he  cannot  come  sensible  of 
what  he  sees  not  nor  feels.  "In  those  days  and  at  that 
time  the  children  of  Israel  shall  come ;  they  and  the  chil- 
dren of  Judah  together,  going  and  weeping;  they  shall 
seek  the  Lord  their  God;  they  shall  ask  their  way  to 
Zion,  with  their  faces  thitherward,  saying,  Come  and  let 
us  join  ourselves  to  the  Lord  in  a  perpetual  covenant  that 
shall  not  be  forgotten."  Jer.  i :  4,  5. 

This  coming  to  Christ  is  called  a  running  to  him,  a 
flying  to  hirn — a  flying  to  him  from  wrath  to  come.  By 
all  which  terms  is  set  forth  the  sense  of  the  man  that 
comes — to  wit,  that  he  is  affected  with  the  sense  of  his  sin^ 


22 


OLD  TIME  RELIGIOM. 


and  the  death  due  thereto;  that  he  is  sensible  that  the 
avenger  of  blood  pursues  him,  and  that  therefore  he  is 
cut  off  if  he  makes  not  speed  to  the  Son  of  God  for  life. 
(Matt.  3:7;  Psa*  153:  9.)  Flying  is  the  last  work  of  a 
man  in  danger;  all  that  are  in  danger  do  not  fly;  no,  not 
all  that  see  themselves  in  danger,  all  that  hear  of  danger, 
will  not  fly.  Men  will  consider  if  there  be  no  other  way 
of  escape  before  they  fly.  Therefore,  as  I  said  flying  is 
the  last  thing.  When  all  refuge  'fails,  and  a  man 
is  made  to  see  that  there  is  nothing  left  him  but  sin, 
death,  and  damnation  unless  he  flies  to  Christ  for  life, 
then  he  flies,  and  not  till  then. 

That /the  true  coming  is  from  a  sense  of  an  absolute 
need  of  Jesus  Christ  to  save,  &c.,  is  evident  by  the  out- 
cry that  is  made  by  them  to  come  even  as  they  are  com- 
ing to  him.  (Matt.  14 :  30;  Acts  2 :  37;  Acts  16:  30.)  ''Lord, 
save  me,  or  I  perish;"  "Men  and  brethren,  what  shall  we 
do?"  "Sirs,  what  must  I  do  to  be  saved?"  and  the  like. 
This  language  doth  sufflciently  discover  that  the  truly 
coming  souls  are  souls  sensible  of  their  need  of  salvation 
by  Jesus  Christ,  and  moreover,  that  there  is  nothing  else 
that  can  help  them  but  Christ. 

It  is  yet  farther  evident  by  these  few  things  that  follow : 
It  is  said  that  such  are  pricked  in  their  hearts — that  is, 
with  the  sentence  of  death  by  the  law,  and  the  least  prick 
in  the  heart  kills  a  man.  (Acts  2:  37.)  Such  are  said, 
as  I  said  before,  to  weep,  to  tremble,  and  to  be  astonished 
in  themselves  at  the  evident  and  unavoidable  danger  that 
attends  them  unless  they  fly  to  Jesus  Christ,   (Acts  9:  16.) 

Coming  to  Christ  is  attended  with  an  honest  and  sin- 
cere forsaking  all  for  Him.  "If  any  man  come  unto  me, 
and  hateth  not  his  father  and  mother,  and  wife  and  chil- 


CONVICTION  AND  REPENTANCE^ 


23 


dren,  and  brethren  and  sisters,  yea,  and  his  own  Hfe  also, 
he  cannot  be  my  disciple;  and  whosoever  doth  not  bear  his 
cross  and  come  after  me  cannot  be  my  disciple."  Luke 
14 :  26,  27. 

By  these  and  the  like  expressions  elsewhere  Christ  de- 
scribeth  the  true  comer,  or  the  man  that  indeed  is  coming 
to  him ;  he  is  one  that  casteth  all  behind  his  back ;  he  leav- 
eth  all,  he  forsaketh  all,  he  hateth  all  things  that  would 
stand  in  his  way  to  hinder  his  coming  to  Jesus  Christ. 
There  are  a  great  many  pretended  comers  to  Jesus  Christ 
in  the  world.  And  they  are  much  like  to  the  man  you  read 
of  in  Matt.  21 :  30,  that  said  to  his  father's  bidding,  "I  go, 
sir,"  and  went  not.  I  say,  there  are  a  great  many  such 
comers  to  Jesus  Christ ;  they  say,  when  Christ  calls  by  his 
gospel,  I  come,  sir,  but  still  they  abide  by  their  pleasure 
and  carnal  delights.  They  come  not  at  all,  only  they  give 
Him  a  courtly  compliment ;  but  He  takes  notice  of  it,  and 
will  not  let  it  pass  for  any  more  than  a  lie;  he  who  said, 
"I  go,  sir,"  and  went  not,  he  dissembled  and  lied.  Take 
heed  of  this,  you  that  flatter  yourselves  with  your  own  de- 
ceivings.  Words  will  not  do  with,  Jesus  Christ.  Coming 
is  coming,  and  nothing  else  will  go  for  coming  with  Him. 

FROM  BUNYAN'S  PILGRIM'S  PROGRESS.  A 
TYPICAL  CASE  OF  OLD  TIME  CONVICT- 
ION AND  REPENTANCE. 

"I  saw  a  man  clothed  with  rags,  standing  in  a  certain 
place,  with  his  face  from  his  own  house,  a  book  in  his  hand, 
and  a  great  burden  upon  his  back."  Isa.  64 :  6 ;  Luke  14 : 
33;  Psa.  36:  4;  Heb.  2:  2,  30.  I  looked,  and  saw  him 
open  the  book  and  read  therein;  and  as  he  read  he  wept 
and  trembled;  and,  not  being  able  longer  to  contain,  he 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


brake  out  with  a  lamentable  cry,  saying,  "What  shall  I 
do?"  Acts  2:  37. 

In  this  plight,  therefore,  he  went  home,  and  refrained 
himself  as  long  as  he  could,  that  his  wife  and  children 
should  not  perceive  his  distress ;  but  he  could  not  be  si- 
lent long,  because  that  his  trouble  increased ;  wherefore  at 
length  he  brake  his  mind  to  his  wife  and  children;  and 
thus  he  began  to  talk  to  them:  "O  my  dear  wife,"  said 
he,  "and  you,  the  children  of  my  bowels,  I  your  dear 
friend  am  in  myself  undone  by  reason  of  a  burden  that 
lieth  hard  upon  me :  moreover  I  am  certainly  informed 
that  this  our  city  will  be  burned  with  fire  from  heaven :  in 
which  fearful  overthrow,  both  myself,  with  thee  my  wife, 
and  you  my  sweet  babes,  shall  miserably  come  to  ruin, 
except  (the  which  yet  I  see  not)  some  way  of  escape  may 
be  found,  whereby  we  may  be  delivered."  At  this  his 
relations  were  sore  amazed ;  not  for  that  they  believed 
that  what  he  had  said  to  them  was  true,  but  because  they 
thought  some  fren?y  distemper  had  got  into  his  head; 
therefore,  it  drawing  towards  night,  and  they  hoping  that 
sleep  might  settle  his  brains,  with  all  haste  they  got  him 
to  bed;  but  the  night  was  as  troublesome  to  him  as  the 
day;  wherefore,  instead  of  sleeping,  he  spent  it  in  sighs  and 
tears.  So  when  the  morning  was  come  they  would  know 
how  he  did :  he  told  them,  ''Worse  and  worse."  He  also 
set  to  talking  with  them  again,  but  they  began  to  be 
hardened.  They  also  thought  to  drive  away  his  distemper 
by  harsh  and  surly  carriage  to  him ;  sometimes  they  would 
deride,  sometimes  they  would  chide,  and  sometimes  they 
would  quite  neglect  him.  Wherefore  he  began  to  retire 
himself  to  his  chamber,  to  pray  for  and  pity  them*,  ^nd 
also  to  condole  his  own  misery.    He  would  also  walk  soli- 


CONVICTION  AND  REPENTANCE. 


25 


tarily  in  the  fields,  sometimes  reading  and  sometimes  pray- 
ing; and  thus  for  some  days  he  spent  his  time. 

Now  I  saw,  upon  a  time  when  he  was  walking  itf  the 
fields,  that  he  was  (as  he  was  wont)  reading  in  his  book, 
and  greatly  distressed  in  his  mind ;  and  as  he  read,  he 
burst  out,  as  he  had  done  before,  crying,  "What  shall  I 
do  to  be  saved?"   (Acts  i6:  30,  31.) 

I  saw  also  that  he  looked  this  way  and  that  way,  as  if 
he  would  run;  yet  he  stood  still,  because  (as  I  perceived) 
he  could  not  tell  which  way  to  go.  I  looked  then,  and 
saw  a  man  named  Evangelist  coming  to  him;  and  he 
asked,  "Wherefore  dost  thou  cry?" 

He  answered :  Sir,  I  perceive  by  the  book  in  my  hand 
that  I  am  condemned  to  die,  and  after  that  to  come  to 
judgment;  and  I  find  that  I  am  not  willing  to  do  the 
first,  nor  able  to  do  the  second.  Hcb.  9:  27;  Job  16:  21, 
22;  Ezek.  22:  14. 

Then  said  Evangelist,  Why  not  willing  to  die,  since 
this  life  is  attended  with  so  many  evils?  The  man  an- 
swered. Because  I  fear  that  this  burden  that  is  upon 
my  back  will  sink  me  lower  than  the  grave,  and  I  shall  fall 
into  Tophet.  Isa.  30:  33.  And,  sir,  if  I  be  not  fit  to  go 
to  prison,  I  am  not  fit  to  go  to  judgment,  and  from  thence 
to  execution:  and  the  thoughts  of  these  things  make  me 
cry. 

Then  said  Evangelist,  If  this  be  thy  condition,  why 
standest  thou  still?  He  answered,  Because  I  know  not 
whither  to  go.  Then  he  gave  him  a  parchment  roll ;  and 
there  was  written  within,  "Flee  from  the  wrath  to  come." 
(Matt.  3 :  7.) 

The  man  therefore  read  it,  and  looking  upon  Evan- 
gelist, very  carefully,  said.  Whither  must  I  flee  ?  Then  said 


26 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


Evangelist,  pointing  with  his  finger  over  a  very  wide  field, 
Do  you  see  yonder  Wicket-gate?  (Matt.  7:  13,  14.)  The 
man  said,  No.  Then  said  the  other,  Do  you  see  yonder 
shining  light?  (Psa.  119:  105;  2  Pet.  i:  16.)  He  said,  I 
think  I  do.  Then  said  Evangelist,  Keep  that  light  in  thine 
eye,  and  go  up  directly  thereto,  so  shalt  thou  see  the  gkte ; 
at  which  when  thou  knockest,  it  shall  be  told  thee  what 
thou  shalt  do. 

COMMENTS  ON  THE  ABOVE  TAKEN  FROM  THE 
SAME  SOURCE. 

The  cry  of  an  awakened  sinner,  who  sees  his  own  right- 
eousness to  be  as  filthy  rags,  his  soul  in  a  state  of  wrath 
and  wretchedness,  exposed  to  everlasting  destruction,  feel- 
ing the  burden  of  his  sins  upon  his  back,  he  turns  his  face 
from  his  own  house,  from  himself,  from  all  his  false  hopes 
and  vain  confidences,  for  refuge,  and  takes  his  Bible  in 
his  hand  to  direct  him  where  he  shall  flee  for  safety  and 
salvation.  The  more  a  sinner  reads  therein,  the  more  he 
is  convinced  of  the  wretched  state  and  ruined  condition  of 
his  precious,  immortal  soul,  and  of  his  necessity  of  flee- 
ing to  Christ  for  eternal  life  and  salvation.  As  he  reads, 
he  weeps  and  trembles  to  think  what  will  become  of  him. 
Reader,  was  this  ever  your  case?  Did  you  ever  see  your 
sins,  and  feel  the  burden  of  them,  so  as  to  cry  out,  in  the 
anguish  of  your  soul,  What  must  I  do  to  be  saved?  If 
not,  you  will  look  on  this  precious  book  as  a  romance, 
or  history,  which  no  way  concerns  you ;  you  can  no  more 
understand  the  meaning  of  it,  than  if  it  was  wrote  in  an 
unknown  language:  for  you  are  yet  carnal,  dead  in  your 
sins,  lying  in  the  arms  of  the  wicked  one  in  false  security. 
But  this  book  is  spiritual;  it  can- only  be  understood  by 


CONVICTION  AND  REPENTANCE. 


27 


spiritually  quickened  souls,  who  have  experienced  that 
salvation  in  the  heart  which  begins  with  a  sight  of  sin, 
a  sense  of  sin,  a  fear  of  destruction,  and  dread  of.  damna- 
tion. Such,  and  only  such,  commence  Pilgrims  from  the 
city  of  Destruction  to  the  heavenly  kingdom. 

Conviction  of  sin  in  the  heart,  will  discover  itseff  to 
those  about  us,  by  the  outward  conduct  and  behavior  of  the 
life. 

When  we  begin  to  be  wise  unto  salvation,  carnal 
friends  pronounce  us  mad  unto  destruction;  and  admin- 
ister carnal  medicine  for  our  sin-sick  souls. 

No  soul  was  ever  in  earnest  for  salvation,  till  there 
is  a  cry  in  his  heart  to  be  saved  from  the  wrath  of  an 
offended  God. 

Behold  here  the  tender  love  and  care  of  Jesus,  the 
great  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  souls  to  sin-distressed, 
heavy-laden  sinners,  in  sending  Evangelist,  that  is,  preach- 
er of  Gospel  grace  and  glad  tidings  of  salvation,  to  them. 

A  true  confession  of  an  enlightened,  sensible  sinner. 

The  convictions  of  the  Spirit  of  God  in  the  heart,  make 
a  man  feel  the  insupportable  burden  of  sin  upon  his  back, 
and  to  dread  the  wrath  of  God  revealed  from  heaven 
against  sin. 

The  Gospel  never  leaves  the  convinced  sinner  in  the 
miserable  situation  in  which  it  finds  him,  without  hope  and 
relief;  but  points  him  to  Jesus  for  safety  and  salvation, 
that  he  may  fly  from  himself  and  the  wrath  he  feels  in 
himself,  to  the  fullness  of  the  grace  of  Christ,  signified 
by  the  Wicket-gate. 

Christ,  and  the  way  to  him,  cannot  be  found  without 
the  word.  The  word  directs  to  Christ,  and  the  Spirit 
shines  intO'  the  heart,  whereby  the  sinner  sees  Christ  in 
the  word.   This  makes  God's  word  precious. 


CHAPTER  III. 


OLD  TIME  CONVERSION. 


And  I  will  give  them  one  heart,  and  £  will  put  a  new  spirit  within  you; 
and  I  will  take  the  stony  heart  out  of  their  flesh,  and  will  give  them  a  heart 
of  flesh :  that  they  may  walk  in  my  statutes,  and  keep  mine  ordinances,  and  do 
do  them:  and  they  shall  be  my  people,  and  I  will  be  their  God.    Eze.  11:19,20. 

Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him,  verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  thee,  except 
a  man  be  born  again,  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God.    Jo^hn  3:  3. 

But  as  many  as  received  him,  to  them  gave  he  power  to  become  the  sons 
of  God,  even  to  them  that  believe  on  his  name:  Which  were  born,  not  of  blood, 
nor  of  the  will  of  the  flesh,  nor  of  the  will  of  man,  but  of  God.  John  1:  12,  13. 

And  because  ye  are  §ons,  God  hath  sent  forth  the  Spirit  of  his  Son  into 
your  hearts,  crying,  Abba,  Father.  Wherefore  thou  art  no  more  a  servant,  but  a 
son;  and  if  a  son,  then  an  heir  of  God  through  Christ.  Gal.  4:  6,  7. 

Even  when  we  were  dead  in  sins,  hath  quickened  us  together  with  Christ, 
(by  grace  ye  are  saved:)  Eph.  2:  5. 

And  that  ye  put  on  the  new  man,  which  after  God  is  created  in  righteousness 
and  true  holiness.  Eph.  4:  24. 

For  ye  have  not  received  the  spirit  of  bondage  again  to  fear;  but  ye  have 
received  the  Spirit  of  adoption,  wherby  we  cry  Abba,  Father.  Rom.  8:  15. 

For  ye  are  all  the  children  of  God  by  f«ith  in  Christ  Jesus.  For  as  many 
of  you  as  have  been  baptized  into  Christ  have  put  on  Christ.    Gal.  3:  26,  27. 

Old-time  conversions  will  naturallyi  follow  old-time 
views  of  sin  and  depravity  and  old-time  conviction  and 
repentance  as  described  in  the  two  previous  chapters.  "The 
way  of  the  wicked  is  as  darkness,  and  they  know  not  at 
what  they  stumble."  (Prov.  4 :  19.)  But  when  God's  Spir- 
it moves  upon  their  hearts,  and  they  yield  to  His  influence, 
and  turn  unto  the  Lord  with  a  broken  heart  and  a  con- 
trite spirit,  confessing  and  forsaking  their  sins,  with  works 
meet  for  repentance — embracing  the  forgiveness  of  their 
enemies,  and  restitution  to  the  extent  of  their  ability — 
making  straight  paths  for  their  feet,  through  faith  in  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  they  are  delivered  from  both  the  guilt 
and  power  of  sin. 

The  deeper  the  conviction  and  the  more  thorough  the 
repentance,  the  brighter  and  more  glorious  will  be  the  joy 
of  deliverance.  The  more  entire  the  sense  of  helplessness, 
and  need,  the  more  natural  and  consciously  real  will  be 


OLD  TIME  CONVERSION. 


29 


the  faith  that  takes  hold  upon  the  promises  of  God, 
through  Christ ;  and  the  soul  that  is  (consciously)  forgiven 
much  will  love  the  more.   (See  Luke  7:  36-47.) 

Conversion  in  a  scriptural  sense  is  understood  to  in- 
clude four  things:  forgiveness  of  all  past  transgressions, 
justification  in  the  sight  of  God— through  the  atonement 
of  Christ,  regeneration  or  the  new  birth,  and  adoption 
into  the  family  of  God;  yet  it  seems  to  us  the  latter  two 
are  really  but  one,  as  he  who  is  born  of  the  Spirit,  by  vir- 
tue of  that  new  birth  becomes  a  child  of  God — being  made 
by  birth,  a  partaker  of  the  divine  nature. 

To  be  converted,  then,  is  a  wonderful  change — being 
a  translation  from  the  kingdom  of  Satan  to  the  kingdom 
of  God.  And  these  kingdoms  are  not  similar,  but  the  very 
opposite  of  each  other.  The  one  is  .evil,  the  other  right- 
eous ;  the  one  is  from  beneath,  the  other  from  above ;  the 
one  is  the  kingdom  of  darkness,  the  other  the  kingdom 
of  light.  Hence  conversion  is  described  as  a  change  from 
the  darkness  of  sin  to  the  marvelous  light  of  God.  Well 
did  the  Master  say  of  these  two  kingdoms :  "No  man  can 
serve  two  masters  for  either  he  will  hate  the  one  and  love 
the  other;  or  else  he  will  hold  to  the  one  and  despise  the 
other.    Ye  cannot  serve  God  and  mammon."    (Matt.  6: 

24.) 

By  nature  we  are  blind  and  are  unable  to  see  God.  We 
are  deaf — not  hearing  or  knowing  the  voice  of  God.  And 
our  hearts  are  dead  in  sin  so  that  we  cannot  love  or  com- 
prehend Him.  Having  eyes,  we  see  not;  having  ears  we 
hear  not ;  and  having  hearts,  we  understand  not.  But  be- 
ing born  again,  our  eyes  are  opened  by  a  miracle  of  di- 
vine grace  not  only  to  see  God  but  also  to  behold  his  won- 
derful works  to  the  children  of  men;  our  ears  are  un- 


30 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


stopped  and  we  recognize  God's  voice;  our  hearts  are 
changed — so  that  the  things  we  once  loved  we  now  hate 
and  the  things  we  once  hated  we  now  love.  For  verily 
"Eye  hath  not  seen,  nor  ear  heard,  neither  have  entered 
into  the  heart  of  man,  the  things  which  God  hath  pre- 
pared for  them  that  love  him.  But  God  hath  revealed  them 
unto  us  by  his  spirit."  (I  Cor.  2 :  9, 10.) 

Truly  the  converted  man  is  a  new  creature.  He  lives 
a  new  life.  He  not  only  sees  with  new  eyes  and  Hears 
with  new  ears.  He  has  new  tastes,  new  appetites,  new 
desires,  new  aspirations,  new  thoughts,  new  affections  and 
is  in  very  deed  a  new  man  in  all  that  goes  <to  make  up 
true  manhood. 

Truly  this  being  changed  from  bondage  to  liberty; 
from  the  worst  kind  of  slavery  to  the  most  glorious  free- 
dom, from  the  service  of  our  worst  enemy  to  the  serv- 
ice of  Him  who  has  loved  us  with  an  everlasting  love,  Jrom 
being  of  our  "father,  the  devil,"  to  being  made  partakers 
of  the  divine  nature,  is  a  change  requiring  the  omnipotent 
power  and  grace  of  God  and  can  be  obtained  only  through 
the  atonement  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Yet  that  it  is 
real  and  gloriously  possible  is  proven  not  only  by  the  word 
of  God,  but  by  the  experience  and  testimony  of  blood- 
washed  thousands  who  have  themselves  passed  from  death 
unto  life.  O  glorious  possibility!  O  mighty  transforma- 
tion !  Well  may  it  be  the  theme  of  men  and  angels  and  of 
the  song  of  the  redeemed  around  the  throne  of  God ! 

CONVERSION  OF  JOHN  B.  FINLEY. 

John  B.  Finley  was  a  noted  pioneer  Methodist  minister  of  great  ability  and 
usefulness.  His  father  was  a  devoted  minister  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  This 
account  of  his  conversion  is  given  in  his  own  words  and  is  found  in  his  Auto- 
biography.   We  give  it  as  a  typical  case  of  "Old  Time  Conversion." 

% 


OLD  TIME  CONVERSION. 


31 


In  the  month  of  August,  1801,  I  learned  that  there 

was  to  be  a  great  meeting  at  Cane  Ridge,  in  my  father's 
old  congregation.  Feeling  a  great  desire  to  see  the  won- 
derful things  which  had  come  to  my  ears,  and  having 
been  solicited  by  some  of  my  old  schoolmates  to  go  over 
into  Kentucky  for  the  purpose  of  revisiting  the  scenes  of 
my  boyhood,  I  resolved  to  go.  Obtaining  company,  I 
started  from  my  woody  retreat  in  Highland  county.  Hav- 
ing reached  the  neighborhood  of  the  meeting,  we  stopped 
and  put  up  for  the  night.  The  family,  who  seemed  to  be 
posted  in  regard  to  all  the  movements  of  the  meeting, 
cheerfully  answered  all  our  inquiries,  and  gave  us  all  the 
information  we  desired.  The  next  morning  we  started 
for  the  meeting.  On  the  way  I  said  to  my  companions, 
"Now,  if  I  fall  it  must  be  by  physical  power  and  not  by 
singing  and  praying;"  and  as  I  prided  myself  upon  my 
manhood  and  courage,  I  had  no  fear  of  being  overcome 
by  any  nervous  excitability,  or  being  frightened  into 
religion.  We  arrived  upon  the  ground,  and  here  a  scene 
presented  itself  to  my  mind  not  only  novel  and  unaccount- 
able, but  awful  beyond  description.  A  vast  crowd,  sup- 
posed by  some  to  have  amounted  to  twenty-five  thousand, 
was  collected  together.  The  noise  was  like  the  roar  of 
Niagara.  The  vast  sea  of  human  beings  seemed  to  be 
agitated  as  if  by  a  storm.  I  counted  seven  ministers,  all 
preaching  at  one  time,  some  on  stumps,  others  in  wagons, 
and  one — the  Rev.  William  Burke,  now  of  Cincinnati — 
was  standing  on  a  tree  which  had,  in  falling,  lodged 
against  another.  Some  of  the  people  were  singing,  others 
praying,  some  crying  for  mercy  in  the  most  piteous  ac- 
cents, while  others  were  shouting  most  vociferousl}^  While 
witnessing  these  scenes,  a  peculiarly-strange  sensation. 


32 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


such  as  I  had  never  felt  before,  came  over  me.  My  heart 
beat  tumultuously,  my  knees  trembled,  my  lips  quivered, 
and  I  felt  as  though  I  must  fall  to  the  ground.  A  strange 
supernatural  power  seemed  to  pervade  the  entire  mass 
of  mind  there  collected.  I  became  so  weak  and  powerless 
that  I  found  it  necessary  to  sit  down.  Soon  after  I  left 
and  went  into  the  woods,  and  there  I  strove  to  rally  and 
man  up  my  courage.  I  tried  to  philosophize  in  regard  to 
these  wonderful  exhibitions,  resolving  them  into  mere 
sympathetic  excitement — a  kind  of  religious  enthusiasm, 
inspired  by  songs  and  eloquent  harangues.  My  pride  was 
wounded,  for  I  had  supposed  that  my  mental  and  physi- 
cal strength  and  vigor  could  most  successfully  resist  these 
influences. 

After  some  time  I  returned  to  the  scene  of  excitement, 
the  waves  of  which,  if  possible,  had  risen  still  higher.  The 
same  awfulness  of  feeling  came  over  me.  I  stepped  up 
on  to  a  log,  where  I  could  have  a  better  view  of  the  surg- 
ing sea  of  humanity.  The  scene  that  then  presented  itself 
to  my  mind  was  indescribable.  At  one  time  I  saw  at  least 
five  hundred  swept  down  in  a  moment,  as  if  a  battery  of 
a  thousand  guns  had  been  opened  upon  them,  and  then 
immediately  followed  shrieks  and  shouts  that  rent  the, 
very  heavens.  My  hair,  rose  up  on  my  head,  my  whole 
frame  trembled,  the  blood  ran  cold  in  my  veins,  and  I 
fled  for  the  woods  a  second  time,  and  wished  I  had  staid 
at  home.  While  I  remained  here  my  feelings  became 
intense  and  insupportable.  A  sense  of  suffocation 
and  blindness  seemed  to  come  over  me,  and  I  thought  I 
was  going  to  die.  There  being  a  tavern  about  half  a  mile 
ofif,  I  concluded  to  go  and  get  some  brandy,  and  see  if  it 
would  not  strengthen  my  nerves.   When  I  arrived  there  I 


OLD  TIME  CONVEtiSION. 


33 


was  disgusted  with  the  sight  that  met  my  eyes.  Here  I 
saw  about  one  hundred  men  engaged  in  drunken  revelry, 
playing  cards,  trading  horses,  quarreling,  and  fighting. 
After  some  time  I  got  to  the  bar,  and  took  a  dram  and 
left,  feehng  that  I  was  as  near  hell  as  I  wished  to  be, 
either  in  this  or  the  world  to  come.  The  brandy  had  no 
effect  in  allaying  my  feelings,  but,  if  anything,  made  me 
worse.  Night  at  length  came  on,  and  I  was  afraid  to  see 
any  of  my  companions.  I  cautiously  avoided  them,  fear- 
ing lest  they  should  discover  something  the  matter  with 
me.  In  this  state  I  wandered  about  from  place  to  place, 
in  and  around  the  encampment.  At  times  it  seemed  as  if 
all  the  sins  I  had  ever  committed  in  my  life  were  vividly 
brought  up  in  array  before  my  terrified  imagination,  and 
under  their  awful  pressure  I  felt  that  I  must  die  if  I  did 
not  get  relief.  Then  it  was  that  I  saw  clearly  through  the 
thin  veil  of  UniversaHsm,  and  this  refuge  of  lies  was  swept 
away  by  the  Spirit  of  God.  Then  fell  the  scales  from  my 
sin-blinded  eyes,  and  I  realized,  in  all  its  force  and  power, 
the  awful  truth,  that  if  I  died  in  my  sins  I  was  a  lost  man 
forever.   O,  how  I  dreaded  the  death  of  the  soul;  for 

"There  is  a  death  whose  pang 

Outlasts  the  fleeting  breath; 
O  what  eternal  horrors  hang 

Around  the  second  death!" 

Notwithstanding  all  this,  my  heart  was  so  proud  and  hard 
that  I  would  not  have  fallen  to  the  ground  for  the  whole 
state  of  Kentucky.  I  felt  that  such  an  event  would  have 
been  an  everlasting  disgrace,  and  put  a  final  quietus  on 
my  boasted  manhood  and  courage.  At  night  I  went  to  a 
barn  in  the  neighborhood,  and  creeping  under  the  hay, 
spent  a  most  dismal  night.  I  resolved,  in  the  morning, 
to  start  for  home,  for  I  felt  that  I  was  a  ruined  man. 
Finding  one  of  the  friends  who  came  over  with  me,  I  said, 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION, 


"Captain,  let  us  be  off;  I  will  stay  no  longer."  He  as- 
sented, and  getting  our  horses  we  started  for  home.  We 
said  but  little  on  the  way,  though  many  a  deep,  long- 
drawn  sigh  told  the  emotions  of  my  heart.  When  we  ar- 
rived at  the  Blue  Lick  Knobs,  I  broke  the  silence  which 
reigned  mutually  between  us.  Like  long-pent-up  waters, 
seeking  for  an  avenue  in  the  rock,  the  fountains  of  my 
soul  were  broken  up,  and  I  exclaimed,  "Captain,  if  you 
and  I  don't  stop  our  wickedness  the  devil  will  get  us 
both."  Then  came  from  my  streaming  eyes  the  bitter 
tears,  and  I  could  scarcely  refrain  from  screaming  aloud. 
This  startled  and  alarmed  my  companion,  and  he  com- 
menced weeping  too.  Night  approaching,  we  put  up  near 
Mayslick,  the  whole  of  which  was  spent  by  me  in  weeping 
and  promising  God,  if  he  would  spare  me  till  morning  I 
would  pray  and  try  to  mend  my  life  and  abandon  my 
wicked  courses. 

As  soon  as  day  broke  I  went  to  the  woods  to  pray, 
and  no  sooner  had  my  knees  touched  the  ground  than  I 
cried  aloud  for  mercy  and  salvation,  and  fell  prostrate.; 
My  cries  were  so  loud  that  they  attracted  the  attention 
of  the  neighbors,  many  of  whom  gathered  around  me. 
Among  the  number  was  a  German  from  Switzerland,  who 
had  experienced  religion.  He,  understanding  fully  my 
condition,  had  me  carried  to  his  house  and  laid  on  a  bed. 
The  old  Dutch  saint  directed  me  to  look  right  away  to  the 
Savior.  He  then  kneeled  at  the  bedside  and  prayed  for 
my  salvation  most  fervently,  in  Dutch  and  broken  English. 
He  then  rose  and  sung  in  the  same  manner,  and  continued 
singing  and  praying  alternately  till  nine  o'clock,  when  sud- 
denly my  load  was  gone,  my  guilt  removed,  and  presently 
the  direct  witness  from  heaven  shone  full  upon  my  soul. 


OLD  TIME  CONVERSION. 


35 


Then  there  flowed  such  copious  streams  of  love  into  the 
hitherto  waste  and  desolate  places  of  my  soul,  that  I 
thought  I  should  die  with  the  excess  of  joy.  I  cried,  I 
laughed,  I  shouted,  and  so  strangely  did  I  appear  to  all 
but  my  Dutch  brother,  that  they  thought  me  deranged. 
After  a  time  I  returned  to  my  companion,  and  we  started 
on  our  journey.  O  what  a  day  it  was  to  my  soul!  The 
Sun  of  righteousness  had  arisen  upon  me,  and  all  nature 
seemed  to  rejoice  in  the  brightness  of  its  rising.  The 
trees  that  waved  their  lofty  heads  in  the  forest,  seemed  to 
bow  them  in  adoration  and  praise.  The  living  stream  of 
salvation  flowed  into  mysoul.  Then  did  I  realize  the  truth 
of  that  hymn  I  have  so  frequently  sung: 

"I  feel  that  heaven  is  now  begun; 
It  issues  from  the  sparkling  throne — 

From  Jesus'  throne  on  high; 
It  comes  in  floods  I  can't  contain; 
I  drink,  and  drink,  and  drink  again, 

And  yet  am    ever  dry." 

I  told  the  captain  how  happy  I  was,  and  was  often  inter- 
rupted, in  a  recital  of  my  experience,  by  involuntary  shouts 
of  praise.  I  felt  a  love  for  all  mankind,  and  reproached 
myself  for  having  been  such  a  fool  as  to  live  so  long  in 
sin  and  misery  when  there  was  so  much  mercy  for  me. 

At  length  we  arrived  at  home,  and  I  told  my  wife  what 
great  things  the  Lord  had  done  for  me.  While  I  spoke 
she  commenced  weeping,  and  began  to  seek  the  Lord.  I 
also  told  my  brother  John,  and  soon  the  news  spread 
through  the  whole  neighborhood  that  Finley  had  obtained 
religion. 


i 


CHAPTER  IV. 


OLD  TIME  HUNGERING  AND  THIRSTING  AFTER 
RIGHTEOUSNESS. 


Follow  peace  with  all  men,  and  holiness,  without  which  no  man  shall  see 
the  Lord:  Hel>.  12:  14. 

And  the  glory  which  thou  gavest  me  I  have  given  them;  that  they  may  be  one, 
even  as  we  are  one:  I  in  them,  and  thou  in  me,  that  they  may  be  made  perfect 
in  one;  and  that  the  world  may  know  that  thou  hast  sent  me,  and  hast  loved 
them,  as  thou  hast  loved  me.    John  17:  22,  23. 

For  this  cause  I  bow  my  knees  unto  the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
of  whom  the  whole  family  in  heaven  and  earth  is  named,  that  he  would  grant 
you,  according  to  the  riches  of  his  glory,  to  be  strenghtened  with  might  by  his 
Spirit  in  the  inner  man;  that  Christ  may  dwell  in  your  hearts  by  faith;  that  ye, 
being  rooted  and  grounded  in  love,  may  be  able  to  comprehend  with  all  saints 
what  13  the  breadth,  and  length,  and  depth,  and  height;  and  to  know  the  love 
of  Christ,  which  passeth  knowledge,  that  ye  might  be  filled  with  all  the  4ulness 
of  God.  Now  unto  him  that  is  able  to  do  exceeding  abundantly  above  all  that 
we  ask  or  think,  according  to  the  power  that  worketh  in  us,unto  him  be  glory  in 
the  church  by  Christ  Jesus  throughout  all  ages,  world  without  end.  Amen.  Eph. 
3:  14-21. 

And  the  very  God  of  peace  sanctify  you  wholly;  and  I  pray  God  your  whole 
spirit  and  soul  and  body  be  preserved  blameless  unto  the  coming  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.    1  Thes.  5:  23. 

Now  the  God  of  peace,  tliat  brought  again  from  the  dead  our  Lord  Jesus,  that 
great  Shepherd  of  the  sheep,  through  the  blood  of  the  everlasting  covenant, 
make  you  perfect  in  evry  good  work  to  do  his  will,  working  in  you  that  which 
is  well  pleasing  in  his  sight,  through  Jesus  Christ;  to  whom  be  glory  for  ever 
and  evei:.    Amen.    Heb.  13:  20,  21. 

Blessed  be  the  Lord  God  of  Israel;  for  he  hath  visited  and  redeemed  his 
people,  and  hath  raised  up  a  horn  of  salvation  for  us  in  the  house  of  his  servant 
David;  as  he  spake  by  the  mouth  of  his  holy  prophets,  which  have  been  since  the 
world  began:  that  we  should  be  saved  from  our  enemies,  and  from  the  hand  of 
all  that  hate  us;  to  perform  the  mercy  promised  to  our  fathers,  and  to  remember 
his  holy  covenant;  the  oath  which  he  sware  to  our  father  Abraham,  that  he 
would  grant  unto  us,  that  we,  being  delivered  out  of  the  hand  of  our  enemies, 
might  serve  him  without  fear,  in  holiness  and  righteousness  before  him,  all  the 
days  of  our  life.    Luke  1:  t58-75. 

And  he  gave  some,  apostles;  and  some,  prophets;  and  some,  evangelists;  and 
some,  pastors  and  teachers;  for  the  perfecting  of  the  saints,  for  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  for  the  edifying  of  the  body  of  Christ:  till  we  all  come  in  the  unity 
of  the  faith,  and  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God,  unto  a  perfect  man,  unto 
the  measure  of  the  stature  of  the  fulness  of  Christ:  Eph.  4:  11-13. 

And  they  were  all  tilled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  began  to  speak  with 
other  tongues,  as  the  Spirit  gave  them  utterance.    Acts  2:  4. 

In  the  hearts  of  those  who  have  been  clearly  and  thor- 
oughly converted  and  who  walk  in  the  light  of  God,  there 
soon  comes  a  conscious  hunger   for  deliverance  from 


HUNGERING  AFTER  RIGHTEOUSNESS. 


37 


everything  that  is  contrary  to  the  will  of  God  and  for 
more  complete  and  increased  conformity  to  the  divine 
nature. 

The  deeper  the  experience  already  gained,  the  deeper 
will  be  this  hunger  and  the  greater  the  hatred  felt  toward 
everything  that  hinders  communion  with  God  and  loving 
Him  with  all  the  heart,  and  with  all  the  soul,  and  with  all 
the  mind  and  our  neighbor  as  ourselves.  The  Savior 
plainly  recognized  this  fact  when  in  his  sermon  on  the 

.   mount  He  declared :  "Blessed  are  they  that  hunger  and 
thirst  after  righteousness,  for  they  shall  be  filled." 

Matthew  Henry  commenting  upon  this  Scripture  says : 
"Righteousness  is  here  put  for  all  spiritual  blessings. 
*  *  *  We  must  truly  and  really  desire  them,  as  one  who 
is  hungry  and  thirsty  desires  meat  and  drink,  who  can  not 
be  satisfied  with  anything  but  meat  and  drink,  and  will  be 
satisfied  with  them,  though  other  things  be  wanting.  Our 
desires  of  spiritual  blessings  must  be  earnest  and  impor- 
tunate; *Give  me  these,  or  else  I  die;  everything  else  is 
dross  and  chaff,  unsatisfying;  give  me  these,  and  I  have 
enough,  though  I  had  nothing  else.'  *  *  *  * 

"Those  who  thus  hunger  and  thirst  after  spiritual  bless- 
ings, are  blessed  in  those  desires,  and  shall  be  filled  with 
those  blessings,  (i)  They  are  blessed  in  those  desires. 
Though  all  desires  of  grace  are  not  grace,  (feigned,  faint 
desires  are  not),  yet  such  a  desire  as  this,  is ;  it  is  an  evi- 
dence of  something  good,  and  an  earnest  of  something 
better.  It  is  a  desire  of  God's  own  raising,  and  He  will 
not  forsake  the  work  of  his  own  hands.  Something  or 
other  the  soul  wilhbe  hungering  and  thirsting  after;  there- 

"  fore  they  are  blessed  who  fasten  upon  the  right  object, 
which  is  satisfying,  and  not  deceiving;  and  do  not  pant 


38 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


after  the  dust  of  the  earth,  Amos  2:  7.  Isa.  55:  2.  (2) 
They  shall  be  filled  with  those  blessings.  God  will  give 
them  what  they  desire  to  their  complete  satisfaction.  It 
is  God  only  who  can  fill  a  soul,  whose  grace  and  power 
are  adequate  to  its  just  desires ;  and  He  will  fill  those  with 
grace  for  grace,  who,  in  a  sense  of  their  own  emptiness, 
have  recourse  to  his  fullness.  He  fills  the  hungry,  (Luke 
I '  53),  satiates  them,  Jer.  31 :  25.  The  happiness  of 
heaven  will  certainly  fill  the  soul ;  their  righteousness  shall 
be  complete,  the  favor  of  God  and  his  image,  both  in  their 
full  perfection." 

Joseph  Benson  says  regarding  these  same  words  of*  our 
Savior :  "  'Blessed  are  they  which  hunger  and  thirst  after 
righteousness' — ^That,  instead  of  desiring  the  possessions 
of  others,  and  endeavoring  to  obtain  them  by  violence  or 
deceit,  and  instead  of  coveting  this  world's  goods,  sin- 
cerely, earnestly,  and  perseveringly  desire  universal  holi- 
ness of  heart  and  life,  or  deliverance  from  all  sinful  dis- 
positions and  practices,  and  a  complete  restoration  of  their 
souls  to  the  image  of  God  in  which  they  were  created :  a 
just  and  beautiful  description  this  of  that  fervent,  con- 
stant, increasing,  restless,  and  active  desire;  of  that  holy 
ardor  and  vehemence  of  soul,  in  pursuit  of  the  most  emi- 
nent degrees  of  universal  goodness,  which  will  end  in  com- 
plete satisfaction.  'For  they  shall  be  filled' — shall  obtain 
the  righteousness  which  they  hunger  and  thirst  for,  and  be 
abundantly  satisfied  therewith." 

Thomas  Scott  thus  comments  upon  the  same  Scrip- 
ture :  "They  only  are  happy,  who  hunger  and  thirst  after 
righteousness :  that  is,  after  God,  and  his  favor,  image,  and 
the  holy  felicity  to  be  enjoyed  in  his  Service ;  who  know  the 
nature,  excellency,  and  value  of  such  blessings;  who 


HUNGERING  AFTER  RIGHTEOUSNESS.  39 


choose  and  seek  them  in  the  first  place ;  who  subordinate 
all  other  interests  and  pleasures  to  them ;  who  will  not  put 
up  with  anything  short  of  them:  who  value  everything  in 
proportion  as  it  tends  to  them;  who  are  dissatisfied  with 
every  attainment  hitherto  made;  and  more  grieved,  that 
they  are  not  more  holy,  than  because  they  are  poor,  sick 
or  neglected;  and  who  long  above  all  things  for  perfect 
holiness  and  happiness  in  the  favor  and  service  of  God. 
The  new  covenant  is  so  constituted,  that  persons  of  this 
character  cannot  fail  to  seek  and  find  the  righteousness 
after  which  they  hunger  and  thirst :  for  the  Holy  Spirit 
that  excited  this  spiritual  appetite  will  lead  them  to 
Christ,  that  it  may  be  satisfied ;  they  will  accept  of  his  sal- 
vation, and  receive  from  his  fulness  of  grace;  they  will 
obtain  a  measure  of  the  desired  felicity  on  earth ;  and  when 
all  others  will  be  torn  from  the  object  of  their  choice,  then, 
and  not  before,  they  'will  be  filled ;'  that  is,  as  firmly  estab- 
lished in  the  enjoyment  of  the  divine  love,  and  as  entirely 
perfected  in  holiness,  as  they  can  desire :  and  this  shall 
continue  forever ;  'they  shall  hunger  no  more,  neither  thirst 
any  more.'  " 

Adam  S'larke,  quoting  from  both  Alford  and  Lange, 
thus  explains  these  words  :  "  'They  which  do  hunger  and 
thirst' — As  the  body  has  its  natural  appetites  of  hunger 
and  thirst  for  the  food  and  drink  suited  to  its  nourish- 
ment, so  has  the  soul.  (See  i  Pet.  2 :  2.)  (Hungering  is 
a  result  of  a  healthy  state  of  the  system ;  and  so  the  desire 
for  spiritual  food  is  an  evidence  that  the  soul  has  been  re- 
stored to  health.)  (This  hungering  and  thirsting  after 
righteousness  is  the  true  sign  of  that  new  life  on  which 
those  born  of  the  Spirit  have  entered. — Alford.) 

Righteousness,  here,  is  taken  for  all  the  blessings  of 


40 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION, 


the  new  covenant ;  all  the  graces  of  the  Messiah's  king- 
dom ;  a  full  restoration  to  the  image  of  God ! 

('They  shall  be  filled' — That  is,  with  righteousness. 
This  promise  applies  neither  exclusively  to  justifica- 
tion by  faith  nor  to  final  acquittal  in  judgment;  but  in- 
cludes both  justification  and  sanctification,  and  final 
acquittal;  all  of  which  are,  indeed,  inseparably  connected 
with  justification. — Lange.)" 

Philip  Doddridge  says :  "Happy  are  they  that,  instead 
of  desiring  insatiably  the  possessions  of  others,  and  en- 
deavoring to  obtain  them  by  violence  or  deceit,  eagerly 
hunger  and  thirst  after  righteousness,  and  make  it  the 
delightful  business  of  life  to  improve  in  all  the  branches  of 
virtue  and  goodness ;  for  they  shall  never  be  disappointed 
in  these  pious  pursuits,  but  be  abundantly  satisfied  with 
the  righteousness  they  seek,  (compare  Prov.  21 :  21)  and 
be  competently  supplied  with  every  necessary  inferior 
good." 

That  there  remains  in  the  hearts  of  true  Christians 
— ^ose  who  have  been  born  of  the  Spirit  and  are  con- 
scious of  real  love  and  faith  and  hope  toward  God  begotten 
of  Him  in  the  soul — an  inherited  evil  nature  or  a  corrup- 
tion of  the  nature,  what  Paul  terms  the  "old  man"  and  the 
"carnal  mind"  that  is  "enmity  against  God,"  and  contends 
against  the  life  of  God  in  the  soul,  is  clearly  proven  both 
by  the  word  of  God  and  by  the  experience  and  accumu- 
lated testimony  of  the  people  of  God  in  all  ages. 

Much  that  bears  upon  this  subject  has  been  given  in 
the  selections  furnished  in  previous  chapters  and  need  not 
be  repeated  here. 

All  are  agreed  that  the  true  Christian  hates  this  inher- 
ited evil  which  he  finds  within  and  strives  against  it  and 


HUNGERING  AFTER  RIGHTEOUSNESS. 


41 


instinctively  yearns  for  deliverance  from  it.  Moreover  all 
agree  that  this  hunger — this  thirst  after  righteousness — 
this  yearning  for  a  clean  heart  is  begotten  of  God  and  is 
designed,  through  a  d-eeper  knowledge  of  itself,  to  turn  the 
soul  unto  God  for  help  and  deliverance. 

But  in  their  belief  as  to  how  and  when  this  deliverance 
is  to  be  found,  the  people  of  God  widely  differ,  even  as 
they  once  differed  regarding  the  possibility  of  the  receiv- 
ing the  witness  of  the  Spirit  that  they  were  the  children 
of  God. 

Regarding  this  subject  we  have  not  the  inclination,  in 
this  place,  to  enter  into  any  lengthy  discussion.  Many 
books  have  been  written  regarding  this  subject  and  we 
have  not  space  here  to  consider  the  question  at  length. 
In  passing,  however,  we  would  call  attention  to  a  few 
joints  and  ask  a  few  questions  that  we  believe  may  be 
helpful  to  those  that  are  in  earnest  to  know  and  do  the 
will  of  God. 

The  religion  taught  in  both  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ments is  one  and  the  same.  From  the  beginning,  God  has 
demanded  that  his  people  should  love  Him  perfectly  and 
entirely — that  is  with  all  the  capacity  of  their  being — and 
that  no  rival"  affection  should  find  any  place  in  their 
hearts.  In  the  law  given  by  Moses  He  said :  "Thou  shalt 
love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thine  heart,  and  with  all 
thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy  might;"  and  Christ  gave  the 
same  command  in  declaring  our  duty  under  the  gospel. 
(See  Deut.  6:  5  and  Matt.  22:  37.) 

If  "the  carnal  mind  is  enmity  against  God"  and  "is  not 
subject  to  the  law  of  God  neither  indeed  can  be,"  (Rom. 
8:  7),  God  in  commanding  us  to  love  Him  with  all  our 
heart  must  have  provided  for  the  removal  or  cleansing  away 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


of  everything  that  would  make  it  impossible  for  us  to 
obey.  And  with  this  the  Word  agrees  for  to  the  Old  Tes- 
tament saints  He  promised :  *'The  Lord  thy  God  will  cir- 
cumcise thine  heart,  and  the  heart  of  thy  seed,  to  love  the 
Lord  thy  God  with  all  thine  heart,  and  with  all  thy  soul." 
(Deut.  30:  6.)  And  to  us  under  the  new  dispensation  He 
says  by  the  inspired  apostle  that  "If  we  walk  in  the  light 
as  he  is  in  the  light,  we  have  fellowship  one  with  another 
and  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  his  Son  cleanseth  us  Irom 
all  sin." 

Since  God  has  declared  that  "The  w^ath  of  God  is  re- 
vealed from  heaven  against  all  ungodliness  and  unright- 
eousness of  men,"  (Rom.  i :  18,)  and  that  He  loves  right- 
eousness and  hates  iniquity,  (See  Heb.  1:9);  that  the 
fear  of  the  Lord  is  to  hate  evil,  (Prov.  8:  13),  that  He  is 
of  purer  eyes  than  to  behold  evil  and  cannot  look  upon 
iniquity — that  is  to  allow  or  consent  to  it— (See  Hab.  i: 
13,)  and  since  He  commands  us  to  be  holy  because  He  is 
holy  (See  Lev.  ii :  44  and  i  Pet.  i :  16),  and  tells  us  that 
as  his  children  we  may  know  that  "our  old  man  is  cruci- 
fied with  him  that  the  body  of  sin  might  be  destroyed"i 
(Rom.  6:  6)  can  it  be  his  will  or  choice  that  the  rtoture 
which  He  has  declared  to  be  enmity  against  Himself 
should  remain  in  the  heart — ^that  is  in  the  will  and  affect- 
ions— of  his  children? 

Could  a  true  husband  be  satisfied  to  know  that  in  the 
heart  of  his  bride  there  existed  together  with  some  degree 
of  regard  for  himself  as  real  a  love  for  another  and  that 
other  his  own  worst  enemy,  even  though  he  knew  that  she 
was  trying  to  repress  that  wrong  affection? 

Would  an  earthly  parent  choose  that  there  should  con- 
tinue to  exist  in  the  heart  of  his  child,  enmity  against  him- 


HUNGERING  AFTER  RIGHTEOUSNESS.  43 


self — if  it  were  in  his  power  to  remove  it? 

And  if  we  demand  that  human  affection  should  be  pure 
and,  in  this  sense,  perfect,  are  the  Heavenly  Bridegroom 
and  the  Heavenly  Father  satisfied  with  less,  not  with- 
standing the  infinite  love  they  have  bestowed  upon  us? 

We  believe  that  much  of  the  difference  of  belief  and 
teaching  that  exists  regarding  this  subject  is  caused  by 
misconception  and  misunderstanding  of  the  use  of  terms. 

If  under  the  term  sin,  is  included  all  infirmities  of  body 
and  spirit  that  result  from  the  fall  or  from  our  own 
previous  wrong  doing  and  all  deviations  from  a  law  of 
absolute  righteousness  that  may  result  therefrom,  all  both 
in  our  nature  and  actions  that  demand  the  atoning  merit 
of  the  blood  of  Christ,  then  may  we  well  declare  that  no 
one  can  live  here  in  the  body  without  the  commission  of 
sin ;  but  if  by  sin  we  mean  only  that  which  is  contrary  to 
the  loving  God,  with  all  our  heart  and  with  all  our  mind 
and  with  all  our  strength,  who  shall  dare  to  declare  that 
God  will  not  fulfill  in  the  hearts  of  those  who  trust  and 
obey  Him  that  which  He  has  so  graciously  promised  and 
sanctify  them  wholly  and  preserve  them  blameless  unto 
the  coming  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ?  (See  i  Thess.  5: 
23,  24.) 

And  is  not  this  the  more  scriptural  use  of  the  word  sin  ? 
Does  not  the  word  of  God  tell  us  that  "to  him  that  know- 
eth  to  do,  good  and  doeth  it  not,  to  him  it  is  sin?"  (James 
4:  17.)  And  if  "Sin  is  the  transgression  of  the  law"  (John 
3:  4,)  are  we  not  expressly  told  that  love  is  its  fulfilling? 
(See  Rom.  13 :  10.)  And  are  we  not  also  assured  that  "the 
end  of  the  commandment  is  charity"  (or  love)  "out  of  a 
pure  heart  and  of  a  good  conscience,  and  of  faith  un- 
feigned?"  (i  Tim.  1 :  5.) 


44 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


It  is  in  this  sense  that  the  word  is  used  by  those  who 
teach  that  we  may  be  saved  in  this  Hfe  from  both  the 
power  and  inbeing  of  sin. 

Edward  Freeman,  commenting  in  a  recent  article  upon 
the  ritual  used  by  Methodist  and  Episcopalian  churches 
in  connection  with  the  administration  of  the  Lord's  supper 
gives  what  we  consider  a  fair  and  candid  statement  of 
what  is  known  as  the  Methodist  doctrine  of  Christian  per- 
fection or  entire  sanctification  when  he  says :  "We  hold 
that  according  to  the  scriptures,  men  may  be  saved  from 
all  sin  in  this  life,  from  actual  sin  in  regeneration,  and 
from  inbred  sin  in  entire  sanctification.  When  one  is 
born  again  he  is  so  far  saved  that  he  no  longer  commits 
sin ;  and  when  he  becomes  entirely  sanctified  he  is  delivered 
from  the  very  being  of  sin  within  him.  Depravity  no 
longer  exists  in  his  heart,  and  no  longer  manifests  itsel! 
in  his  life.  This  is  full  salvation,  that  hoHness  which  God 
raised  up  Methodism  to  spread  over  these  lands  and 
throughout  the  world."  *  *  *  *  And  where  again  he  says : 

''We  do  not  teaclTthat  we  can  attain  in  this  life  a  state 
of  holiness  which  exempts  us  from  errors  and  infirmities 
of  mind,  mistakes  of  life,  and  defects  of  character;  nor 
that  such  defects  do  not  need  the  atoning  blood  of  Christ ; 
nor  that  it  is  improper  to  confess  them  to  God  and  ask 
him  to  forgive  them.  From  Wesley  down,  ^lethodists  have 
insisted  that  entire  sanctification  is  not  a  state  of  freedom 
from  involuntary  transgressions,  from  many  physical  and 
mental  infirmities,  and  from  many  deviations  from  the  law 
of  absolute  holiness.  Owing  to  the  disordered  condition 
of  our  faculties  of  body  and  mind  which  continues  through 
this  life,  we  must  necessarily  manifest  many  weaknesses 
and  defects ;  and  while  we  may  be  blameless  now,  not  until 


HUNGERING  AFTER  RIGHTEOUSNESS.  45 

the  resurrection  morning  shall  we  be  'presented  faultless 
before  the  presence  of  his  glory/ 

It  is  the  teaching  of  Methodist  theologians  that  these 
infirmities  are  in  some  respects  of  the  nature  of  sin,  though 
not  involving  personal  guilt ;  that  is,  they  are  the  effects  of 
sin,  they  are  moral  imperfections,  they  are  deviations  from 
the  perfect  law,  they  need  the  blood  of  Christ,  and  may 
properly  be  confessed  even  by  the  entirely  sanctified  as 
faults  which  God  is  asked  to  cover  with  his  mercy.  And 
so  far  from  sanctified  people  not  being  aware  of  their 
failings,  the  writer  believes  that  they  perceive  their  faults 
more  clearly  than  others  do.  The  inward  illumination  of 
the  Spirit  reveals  to  them  more  fully  both  the  ineffable 
hoHness  of  the  divine  Majesty  and  their  own  utter  nothing- 
ness in  his  sight.  They  feel  like  humbling  themselves  be- 
fore God,  repudiating  all  merit,  frankly  confessing  that 
they  have  been  transgressors  of  his  holy  law,  and  that  even, 
now  they  are  conscious  of  defects  in  their  lives,  and  that 
their  only  hope  of  salvation  here  or  hereafter  is  in  the 
free  grace  of  God  through  the  death  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  which  they  commemorate  in  the  Lord's  Supper. 
Thus  in  view  of  remaining  infirmities  it  is  eminently  fitting 
for  holy  people  to  humble  themselves  before  God,  especi- 
ally upon  the  occasion  of  the  sacrament ;  and  in  doing  this 
what  language  can  they  use  more  impressive  than  the  sol- 
emn and  beautiful  words  of  the  ritual 

Can  God  regard  with  favor  or  willing  tolerance  in  us, 
the  very  thing  that  changed  angels  of  glory  into  demons 
of  hell?  Will  pride  make  us  more  humble?  Will  the  sin 
of  worldliness  make  us  more  heavenly  minded?  Will  sin- 
ful affections  enable  us  to  love  God  the  more? 

Paul  told  us  that  he  could  "glory  in  infirmities,"  and 


46 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


"take  pleasure  in  reproaches,  in  necessities,  and  in  distress- 
es for  Christ's  sake,"  but  did  he  ever  teach  that  he  gloried 
in  sin  and  that  God  could  be  glorified  thereby — only  by 
manifesting  his  power  and  holiness  in  its  destruction? 

An  earthly  parent  can  find  untold  pleasure  in  the  love 
of  an  infant  child  because  it  loves  him  with  all  its  capacity. 
Moreover  he  may  find  a  constant  source  of  joy  in  its  de- 
velopment from  weakness  to  strength,  but  can  he  ever  re- 
joice to  see  in  his  child  a  spirit  of  disobedience  or  rebell- 
ion? Even  so  can  our  Father  in  Heaven  be  glorified  in 
his  weakest  child  that  loves  Him  with  a  perfect  heart  and 
find  pleasure  in  our  weakest  and  most  imperfect  efforts 
if  prompted  by  pure  love  and  made  with  an  eye  single  to 
His  glory.  But  can  God  rejoice  to  hear  His  children 
truthfully  sing: 

"See  how  we  grovel  here  below, 

Fond  of  these  earthly  toys; 
Our  hearts  how  heavily  they  go. 

To  seek  eternal  joys." 

unless  it  be  by  way  of  humble  confession  with  a  deter- 
mination to  seek  and  obtain  something  better? 

Has  the  grace  of  God  provided  nothing  better  for  us, 
that  his  profesfeed  children  should  quote  such  words  as  a 
description  of  a  normal  Christian  experence? 

Rev.  B.  Pomeroy  in  a  sermon  published  in  Visions 
from  Modern  Mounts,  on  Soul  Hunger  Satisfied,  gives 
expression  to  much  practical  truth.  His  text  was  the  same 
Scripture  to  which  we  have  already  referred,  "Blessed  are 
they  that  hunger  and  thirst  after  righteousness  for  they 
shall  be  filled."  From  that  sermon  we  give  here  some 
brief  selections : 

In  some  connections  of  Scripture  righteousness  in- 
cludes nearly  all  that  appertains  to  practical  and  experi- 


\  HUNGERING  AFTER  RIGHTEOUSNESS.  47 

mental  Christianity,  but  in  the  text  it  is  limited. 

H^re  it  does  not  meat  rite,  ceremony  or  worship; 
neither  does  it  mean  an  open  confession  of  Christ,  a  cir- 
cumspect life,  or  godly  conversation,  but  it  does  mean  the 
root,  or  foundation  of  all  these.  Righteousness  in  the 
text,  if  I  understand  it,  is  a  dispensation,  an  impartation  of 
the  Divine,  an  influx  of  spiritual  life — the  soul's  native 
aliment  and  element.  What  water  is  to  the  fish,  in  some 
respects,  righteousness  is  to  the  soul.  The  fish  lives  in 
the  water  and  his  vitality  is  sustained  by  and  through  the 
water.  So  of  this  righteousness.  It  is  the  element  in 
which  a  pure  spirit  moves,  and  the  banquet  of  holy  exist- 
ence. *  *  * 

Real  hunger  is  not  whimsical  as  to  the  style  of  serving ; 
the  greatest  word  in  its  vocabulary  is,  "Give  me  enough." 

Then,  hunger  is  an  acute  discerner  of  the  difference 
between  a  display  of  china  and  bread ;  as  this  is  the  last 
case  to  divide  his  feast  between  mouth  and  eyes — great 
dazzle  and  little  food.  To  mock  the  appetite  by  adminis- 
tering to  eyes  is  an  insult  to  hunger. 

So  some  churches  in  the  land,  for  the  want  of  some- 
thing to  eat,  substitute  ceremonies  for  soul-eating,  cere- 
monies of  contrasts,  and  ceremonies  of  harmonies,  to  pa- 
rade, and  maneuver,  and  make-believe  eating,  like  children 
playing  "come  to  see." 

But  when  we  come  to  the  kingdom  entertainment,  we 
find  another  thing.  Here  is  righteousness  and  peace  and 
joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost — joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory, 
where  the  saints  cry  out  and  shout,  because  the  Holy  One 
of  Israel  is  in  the  midst  of  them.  You  may  administer 
common  prayer-book  and  machine  worship  to  mummies; 
but  if  there  are  living  souls  in  that  church  they  know  the 


48 


Old  TIM^  RELIGION. 


fraud,  and  if  they  really  hunger  for  the  holy,  you  may 
look  out  for  uncommon  prayer — prayer,  too,  such  as  never 
yet  was  printed.  You  may  entertain  nerves  and  muscles 
with  empty  sound,  but  when  immortal  hunger  opens  its 
mouth,  woe  to  the  man  who  feeds  chaff. 

Finally,  the  promise :  "Shall  be  filled."  Glory  to  God ! 
Immortal  cravings  can  be  satisfied!  There  is  something 
in  the  universe  equal  to  the  vast  want  of  mind.  "Shall  be 
filled !"  This  is  the  law  of  the  Divine  Infinitudes,  to  fill 
everything  that  comes ;  from  high  arch-angel  down  to  babe 
in  Christ.  There  are  no  degrees,  or  limits,  in  the  Infinite. 
The  seat  and  center  of  infinitudes  are  in  Him. 

Every  one  carries  in  himself  the  measure  of  his  own 
receiving.  The  question,  then,  is  not,  how  much  can  God 
give,  but  how  much  can  we  receive?  L,et  it  be  more  or 
less,  fullness  everywhere  is  the  low  water-mark  of  the  king- 
dom, and  if  we  let  the  Spirit  have  his  way  in  us,  if  we  do 
not  interrupt  this  influx  of  righteousness  and  peace  and 
joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  we  shall  be  made  to  run  over  with 
heaven  before  God  says  it  is  enough. 

Now,  my  friends,  are  you  filled?  If  so,  you  are  satis- 
fied ;  there  is  no  hankering  for  carnal  pleasures,  for  the 
leeks  and  onions  of  Egypt;  from  these  we  are  only  cured 
in  the  taste  of  milk  and  honey  in  Canaan. 

We  close  with  one  contrast.  In  literal  eating,  we 
graduate  the  quantity  by  the  appetite,  and  when  the  relish 
ceases,  we  are  through;  no  disposition  to  eat  more.  Not 
so  in  spiritual  things ;  here  the  relish  never  abates  by 
eating,  but  to  the  reverse,  it  increases.  The  soul  is  never 
cloyed  with  things  heavenly,  by  the  superabundance. 

What  then  ?  We  are  just  filled — filled  with  an  unabated 
love  for  more,  but  don't  want,  because  we  are  filled. 


HUNGERING  AE^TER  RIGHTEOUSNESS.  49 


F'riends,  are  you  satisfied  in  Christ,  and  with  Christ? 
If  not,  you  have  not  yet  reached  the  Divine  fulness. 
.  Brother,  I  beseech  you,  don't  be  satisfied  with  present  at- 
tainments, while  you  are  in  a  condition  of  unrest  from 
unsatisfied  wants;  neither  be  discouraged  from  this  dis- 
satisfaction; this  hungering  for  righteousness  is  the  best 
evidence  you  have,  perhaps,  that  God  is  with  you.  Then 
the  strongest  hold  and  the  best  hope  the  Spirit  has  of  you, 
is  in  this  same  distress. 

O  'my  dear  fellow  pilgrim,  cherish  this  groaning  after 
God,  but  don't  administer  cordials  in  your  songs.  Let 
this  groan  go  through  to  the  great  conclusion,  where, 
Hfting  up  holy  hands,  you  exclaim,  "I  am  filled  !"  Amen. 

All  must  agree  that  God's  plan  for  the  soul  is  per- 
petual and  eternal  progress  in  knowledge  of  and  love  for 
and  likeness  to  Himself.  And  surely  just  as  fast  as  by 
meeting  the  necessary  conditions  they  become  capable  of 
receiving  the  grace  of  God  and  using  it  aright,  it  is  his 
will  that  his  children  should  have  all  that  He  has  pur- 
chased for  them  in  the  plan  of  salvation. 

And  surely  outside  of  themselves,  there  is  no  power  in 
the  universe  that  can  keep  them  from  their  promised  in- 
'  heritance ;  "For  his  divine  power  hath  given  unto  us" 
(hath  provided  for  and  offers  us)  ''all  things  that  pertain 
unto  life  and  godliness."  (2  Pet.  i :  3.) 

And  since  it  is  beyond  question  the  plain  and  revealed 
will  of  God  that  his  children  should  grow  in  grace  and  in 
the  knowledge  of  the  truth,  since  we  are  assured  that  "The 
path  of  the  just  is  as  the  shining  light  that  shineth  more 
and  more  unto  the  perfect  day,"  then  no  matter  what  our 
theories  concerning  our  privilege  may  be,  whether  right 
or  wrong,  if  we  as  God's  children  are  not  growing  in  grace 


50 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


— that  is  in  all  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit,  in  love,  joy,  peace, 
long-suffering,  gentleness,  goodness,  faith,  meekness  and 
temperance — if  we  are  not  increasing  in  love  to  God  and 
our  neighbor — if  we  have  not  more  and  more  of  the  mind 
that  was  in  Christ — if  we  do  not  feel  more  as  Jesus  felt 
when  He  wept  over  Jerusalem  and  when  on  the  cross  He 
prayed,  "Father  forgive  them  for  they  know  not  what  they 
do" — if  we  do  not  weep  more  over  the  lost  and  over  the 
desolation  of  Zion — if  we  are  not  more  and  more  inclined 
to  self-denial  and  self-sacrifice  in  behalf  of  souls — if  we 
are  not  increasingly  drawn  out  in  prayer  for  all  saints  and 
the  work  of  God  everywhere — if  we  ai%  not  reflecting  in 
our  lives  and  characters  more  and  more  of  the  divine 
image  and  yet  continually  hungering  a'nd  thirsting  to  know 
more  and  m^ore  of  the  love  of  God  that  passeth  knowledge 
— then  there  is  surely  something  sadly  wrong  in  our  ex- 
perience and  practice. 

Purity  of  heart  can  be  found  alone  by  faith  in  the 
cleansing  power  of  Jesus'  blood.  But  he  who  would  rest 
satisfied  with  purity  is  like  one  who  would  be  satisfied  to 
be  well,  though  dwarfed  in  body  and  mind. 

The  psalmist  declared  that  the  righteous  should  be  like 
a  tree  planted  by  the  rivers  of  water,  that  is  never  thirst- 
ing (in  vain)  because  always  filled,  yet  continually  drink- 
ing more  and  more  as  it  grows  naturally  and  constantly 
toward  full  maturity. 

The  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  purifying  the  heart 
(See  Acts  15:  9,)  is  but  a  preparation  for  his  indwelling, 
(See  John  14:  17,)  that  He  may  "guide"  (lead  by  constant 
continued  progress)  "into  all  truth"  (See  John  16:  13.) 

But  he  that  would  grow  in  grace  and  in  the  knowledge 
of  the  truth  must  welcome  all  the  discipline  that  comes  by 


HUNGERING  AFTER  RIGHTEOUSNESS. 


51 


the  trial  of  his  faith,  for  we  read :  ''Tribulation  worketh 
patience ;  and  patience,  experience ;  and  experience,  hope : 
and  hope  maketh  not  ashamed ;  because  the  love  of  God  is 
shed  abroad  in  our  hearts  by  the  Holy  Ghost  which  is 
given  unto  us."  (Rom.  5 :  3-5.) 

Grace  is  cheap  at  any  price.  Realizing  this,  the  saints 
of  God  gladly  welcome  the  afflictions  which  will  by  the 
working  of  the  Holy  Spirit  increase  their  patience  and  so 
increase  their  experience  and  work  out  for  them  a  *'far 
more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory." 

Trials  and  afflictions  are  not  given  for  the  purifying  of 
the  saints  from  sin,  but  for  their  perfecting  in  holiness.  In 
this  Christ  is  our  example. 

Even  in  his  human  nature  he  was  without  sin — and 
the  Holy  Spirit  was  not  given  by  measure  unto  Him  (See 
John  3 :  34.)  Yet,  "In  the  days  of  his  flesh,  when  he  had 
offered  up  prayers  and  supplications  with  strong  crying 
and  tears  unto  him  that  was  able  to  save  him  from  death, 
and  was  heard  in  that  he  feared;  though  he  were  a  Son, 
yet  learned  he  obedience  by  the  things  which  he  suffered ; 
and  being  made  perfect,  he  became  the  author  of  eternal 
salvation  unto  all  them  that  obey  him. 

And  if  the  blessed  Savior  in  his  human  nature  learned 
lessons  through  suffenkig  that  He  could  not  learn  without, 
shall  we  hope  or  ask  to  escape  ?  Shall  we  not,  the  rather, 
welcome  anything  and  everything  that  may  come  to  us/  in 
the  providence  of  God,  knowing  that  all  things  work  to- 
gether for  good  to  them  that  love  Him  and  that  only  in 
this  way  may  we  be  brought  into  closest  fellowship  wJth 
Him  ?  Surely  he  who  has  in  his  heart  the  old-time  hunger 
for  more  of  God  will  be  led  to  exclaim  with  the  Apotetle : 
"Who  shell  separate  us  from  the  love  of  Christ?  shall 


52 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


tribulation,  or  distress,  or  persecution,  or  famine,  or  naked- 
ness, or  peril,  or  sword.  As  it  is  written.  For  thy  sake  we 
are  killed  all  the  day  long;  we  are  accounted  as  sheep  for 
the  slaughter.  Nay,  in  all  these  things  we  are  more  than 
conquerers  through  him  that  loved  us.  For  I  am  per- 
suaded, that  neither  death,  nor  life,  nor  angels,  nor  princi- 
palities, nor  powers,  nor  things  present,  nor  things  to  come, 
nor  height,  nor  depth,  nor  any  other  creature,  shall  be  able 
to  separate  us  from  the  love  of  God,  which  is  in  Christ 
Jesus  our  I^ord." 


CHAPTER  V. 


AN  OLD  TIME  REVIVAL  OUR  GREATEST  NEED. 


And  it  shall  coma  to  pass  afterward,  thati  will  pour  out  my  Spirit  upon  all 
flesh;  and  your  sons  and  your  daughters  Shall  prophesy,  your  old  men  shall  dream 
dreams,  your  young  men  shall  see  visions:  And  also  upon  the  servants  and  upon 
the  handmaids  in  those  days  will  I  pour  out  my  Spirit.    Joel  2:  28,  29. 

"Blessed  are  they  which  do  hunger  and  thirst  after  righteousness:  for  they 
shall  be  filled."    (Matt.  5:  6.) 

•'For  I  will  pour  water  upon  him  that  is  thirsty,  and  floods  upon  the  dry 
ground:  I  will  pour  my  Spirit  upon  thy  seed,  and  my  blessing  upon  thine  off- 
spring: And  they  shall  spring  up  as  among  the  grass,  as  willows  by  the  water- 
courses."    (Isa.  44:  3,  4.) 

"And  it  shall  come  to  pass  afterward,  that  I  vnll  pour  out  my  Spirit  upon 
all  flesh;  and  your  sons  and  your  daughters  shall  prophesy,  your  old  men  shall 
dream  dreams,  your  young  men  shall  see  visions:  And  also  upon  the  servants 
and  upon  the  handmaids  in  those  days  will  I  pour  out  my  Spirit.    (Joel  2:  28,  29.) 

In  the  last  day,  that  great  day  of  the  feast,  Jesus  stood  and  cried,  saying, 
If  any  man  thirst,  let  him  come  unto  me,  and  drink.  He  that  believeth  on  me, 
as  the  Scripture  hath  said,  out  of  his  belly  shall  flow  rivers  of  living  water. 
(But  this  spake  he  of  the  Spirit,  which  they  that  believe  on  him  should  receive: 
for  the  Holy  Ghost  was  not  yet  given;  because  that  Jesus  was  not  yet  glorified.) 
(John  7:  37-39.) 

By  an  old  time  revival  we  mean  a  "time  of  refreshing 
from  the  presence  of  the  Lord" — resulting  in  the  thorough 
renewing  and  great  deepening  of  spiritual  life  in  the 
hearts  of  God's  children,  the  reclaiming  of  backsliders  and 
in  old  time  conviction,  old  time  repentance,  (including  con- 
fession and  restitution),  old  time  conversions  and  old 
time  consecration — yea  in  old  time  power  and  old-time 
glory. 

God's  plan  for  each  of  his  children  is  that  from  the  hour 
he  is  born  of  the  Spirit  he  should  continue  to  grow  in  grace 
and  in  the  knowledge  of  the  truth  but  alas,  how  few  are 
faithful  to  all  the  light  given  and  constantly  diligent  to 
add  to  their  faith,  virtue,  and  to  virtue  knowledge,  and  to 
knowledge  temperance,  and  to  temperance  patience,  and  to 
patience  godliness,  and  to  godliness  brotherly  kindness, 
and  to  brotherly  kindness  charity,  in  order  that  they  may 


54 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


be  neither  barren  nor  unfruitful  in  the  knowledge  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  (See  2  Peter  i :  5-8.) 

How  few,  like  Paul,  forgetting  those  things  which  are! 
behind,  and  reaching  forth  unto  those  things  which  are 
before,  press  (continually)  toward  the  mark  for  the  prize 
of  the  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus.  And  hence  the 
need  of  revivals !  To  revive  means  to  "restore  and  renew 
life —  to  raise  from  languor,  depression  or  discourage- 
ment." "A  revival  is  a  time  of  renewed  interest  in  religion' 
after  indifference  and  decline ;  a  period  of  religious  awaken- 
ing." A  genuine  revival  is  more  than  an  outward  reforma- 
tion. It  is  a  restoration  of  divine  life  and  power,  and  re- 
vivals are,  primarily,  not  for  the  unsaved,  but  for  the! 
church.  The  very  need  of  a  revival  is  brought  about  byi 
the  coldness  and  backslidings  of  those  who  have  once 
been  made  partakers  of  the  divine  nature. 

SPURIOUS  OR  GENUINE  REVIVALS — WHICH? 
BY  J.  M.  BUCKLEY. 

Every  church  not  zealous  and  active,  whatever  its' 
moral  virtues  may  be,  needs  a  revival  that  it  may  grow 
in  grace  and  save  souls.  There  are  cordials  which  nour- 
ish, and  poisons  which  begin  by  stimulating,  but  end  by( 
killing.  So  there  are  revivals  which  renew  the  strength 
of  the  church,  and  there  are  revivals  which  depress  and 
deaden.  Which  do  you  prefer?  All  would  say,  "Give  us 
a  genuine  revival  or  none."  For  all  that,  many  havel 
spurious  revivals,  and  get  just  what  they  seek.  Some 
churches  can't  tell  what  is  the  matter.  They  say,  "How; 
is  it  we  have  a  revival  every  year,  and  yet  are  weaker 
than  we  were  ten  years  ago?" 

Spurious  revivals  ape  not  altogether  alike,  but  they] 


OUR  GREATEST  NEED. 


55 


resemble  each  other  in  most  respects.  There  is  first  a 
dead  church.  The  leading  members  are  absorbed  in  busi- 
ness. If  a  few  are  devout  and  spiritual,  the  majority  are 
not  so.  They  may  be  liberal  or  parsimonious,  but  they 
have  little  time  for  religious  work.  What  meetings  they 
attend  are  "official."  The  young  people  are  fully  occupied 
with  fairs,  sociables,  unions  and  reading  circles  or  given 
up  to  dancing  and  party  going.  In  cities  they  often  add 
opera  and  theaters. 

A  general  spirit  of  good  humor  prevails.  The  prayer 
meetings  are  usually  slimly  attended  and  very  dull.  Some- 
times they  are  well  attended,  but  the  singing,  prayers  by 
the  aged  members,  and  long  talks  by  the  pastor,  are  the 
main  elements.  Class  meetings  are  defunct  or  dying. 
The  Sunday-school  may  or  may  not  be  flourishing.  In 
such  a  church  there  may  be  large  or  small  contributions, 
the  members  may  be  close,  or  they  may  have  so  much 
means  that  mere  surplus  giving  may  make,  in  the  aggre- 
gate, a  large  sum.  Various  inconsistencies  are  common. 
Discipline  has  been  neglected  for  years.  So  long  as  a 
member  is  either  popular  personally  or  wholly  unknown, 
anything  which  will  not  make  a  public  scandal  is  winked 
at.  If  the  minister  suggests  the  necessity  of  discipline 
the  answer  is,  "We  don't  want  any  trouble;  we  have  not 
had  any  for  years." 

This  is  the  situation :  this  is  a  good  preparation  for  a 
spurious  revival.  It  depends  largely  on  the  minister  now 
whether  they  will  have  no  revival,  a  spurious  revival,  or 
a  genuine  revival.  If  he  is  a  well-meaning,  consistent 
man,  but  not  much  stirred  up,  there  will  be  no  revival; 
if  he  is  spiritually  roused  they  will  have  none,  or  it  will 
be  genuine  so  far  as  it  goes,  whether  it  be  great  or  small. 


.^6 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


But  if  the  minister  simply  feels  that  there  must  be  a  stir, 
and  additions  must  be  had— if  his  moral  nature  be  not 
moved  to  its  depths,  or  if  he  be  superficial  in  his  make- 
up or  experience,  a  spurious  revival  will  be  kindled.  Per- 
haps they  may  get  an  evangelist,  perhaps  not.  A  good 
evangelist  working  in  such  a  soil  as  this  might  produce 
a  spurious  revival.  It  is  not  always  just  to  blame  the 
evangelist.  "Some  good  seed  fell  by  the  wayside,  some 
in  stony  places."  But  all  evangelists  are  not  good  or 
wise.  Perhaps  there  will  be  no  evangelist,  but  the  min- 
ister will  go  on.  The  young  people  have  not  been  trained, 
in  true  religion;  having  thought  that  at  any  time  they 
wish  they  can  ''join  the  church,"  and  having  seen  many 
others  do  it  without  any  great  change  ,and  being  sus- 
ceptible and  emotional,  they  are  easily  operated  on.  No 
hymns  on  human  depravity  or  guilt  are  in  order  now, 
but  smooth,  sweet  hymns  to  lively  tunes — "Show  pity, 
Lord,"  "Alas!  and  did  my  Savior  bleed?"  "Vain  man, 
thy  fond  pursuits  forbear."  Even  "Depth  of  mercy! 
can  it  be,"  will  hardly  do.  Pathetic  stories  must  be  told, 
and  told  well ;  just  after  the  story  the  song  must  come  in 
very  sweetly,  indeed.  Rising  for  prayer  or  coming  for- 
ward must  be  made  easy,  nothing  said  about  "counting 
the  cost."  They  must  all  be  assured  that  it  is  not  "hard 
to  rise,"  "others  have  done  it,"  "we  are  all  your  friends." 
The  cross  being  put  out  of  sight,  then  they  are  tol3  to 
take  it  up.  Soon  the  ice  is  broken,  and  a  wave  of  excite- 
ment quite  pleasureable  and  akin  to  good  humor  is  rip- 
pling through  the  community.  The  seekers  may  be  asked 
if  they  do  not  feel  better.  If  the  question  be  put  with 
the  upward  inflection,  many  will  say,  "Yes."  If  any  one 
says,  "No,"  or  "I  can't  see  that  I  do,"  he  is  sure  to  be 


OUR  GREATEST  NEED. 


57 


asked  if  he  does  not  feel  ''a  little  better?"  If  the  answer 
be  "Yes,"  the  Doxology,  perhaps,  may  be  sung.  No 
reference  to  past  history,  no  examination  into  Jthe  moral 
state,  no  careful  questioning  about  habits,  no  instruction 
as  to  things  to  be  renounced,  nor  no  confession  and  resti- 
tution to  be  made.  The  name  is  taken,  with  the  notice, 
"Be  present  next  Sunday;  I  will  take  you  on  probation." 
"What  class  would  you  like  to  attend?  "I  don't  know 
as  I  want  to  attend  any."  "Well  brother,  I  will  put  your 
name  down;  do  as  well  as  you  can."    "All  right." 

Of  such  a  work  what  shall  be  said?  The  ungodly  un- 
derstand it  as  well  as,  if  not  better,  than  we.  Here  fol- 
lows an  extract  from  an  actual  conversation :  "  'Why 
won't  Mary  come  to  the  dance  to-night?"  "O,  she  has 
been  converted  and  is  going  to  join  the  church  next  Sun- 
day. She  won't  come  while  the  meetings  last,  but  she 
says  she  will  come  next  month.'  " 

We  do  not  presume  to  say  how  many  such  revivals 
there  are.  But  the  above  is  not  a  fancy  sketch  nor  an 
isolated  case. 

A  GENUINE  revival— the  greatest  blessing  God  can 
confer  upon  any  people — begins  in  the  church.  It  shows 
itself  in  increased  earnestness  in  the  godly.  They  prayed 
much  before ;  they  pray  more  now.  .  They  felt  the  burden 
of  sins  before;  it  is  almost  crushing  now.  From  them 
emanates  a  spirit  which  at  first  unconsciously  rouses  the 
slumbering  consciences  of  those  who  had  lost  their  first 
love.  Soon  they  begin  to  see  themselves  as  they  are. 
They  repent,  humble  themselves,  confess  their  sins,  and 
take  their  former  places  in  prayer  and  exhortation.  Now! 
a  real  agony  possesses  the  godly  for  the  unconverted. 
Business  men  begin  to  think  at  their  stores  of  the  peril 


58 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


of  their  sins;  mothers  find  that  they  cannot  sleep  for 
thinking  that  their  daughters,  so  affectionate  to  them,  are 
not  in  love  with  Christ,  and  that,  if  separated  by  death, 
there  is  no  ground  to  hope  for  a  union  in  heaven.  So 
the  husband  begins  to  yearn  over  the  wife  of  his  bosom; 
and  the  wife,  long  travelling  in  the  narrow  way  alone, 
now  feels  this  loneliness  as  never  before.  The  pastor 
knows  what  prayer  and  fasting  mean.  He  cannot  now 
enjoy  the  social  dinners  as  he  could  months  ago.  He  is 
absorbed.  A  feeling  akin  to  awe  fills  the  church.  The 
more  susceptible  among  the  irreligious  begin  to  feel  it. 
An  appeal  is  made  to  sinners.  Nothing  seems  to  come 
of  it  but  a  solemn  stillness.  Those  who  have  seen  only 
a  spurious  revival  are  surprised;  they  wonder  that  more 
do  not  respond.  But  the  scribe,  well  instructed  unto  the 
Kingdom  of  Heaven,  may  be  depressed,  but  is  not  sur- 
prised. This  work  begins  slowly;  it  is  not  shavings,  but 
coal,  that  is  kindling.  The  unconverted  are  drawn  to- 
ward, and  drawn  from,  Christ;  they  see  that  it  is  no! 
light  thing  to  be  a  Christian:  that  it  means  giving  up; 
the  world,  giving  up  many  things  that  many  professedl 
Christians,  and  some  ministers,  love  to  do.  They 
are  not  ready  for  the  sacrifice ;  they  hold  back.  Buti 
the  spirit  of  exhortation  comes  upon  the  church;  prayer) 
seems  to  bring  together  heaven  and  earth.  Sinners 'trem- 
ble; they  yield.  Men,  strong  men,  women  of  fashlony 
little  children,  fiery  youth,  all  know  that  the  Lord  is  inl 
His  temple.  Now  they  need  no  one  to  tell  them  they] 
are  converted,  to  cajole  them  by  asking  them  if  they| 
feel  better.  They  receive  instruction,  consecrate  them-, 
selves  to  God,  and  soon  they  testify  by  word  or  look,  or| 
inarticulate  utterance  that  they  have  passed  from  deathj 


OUR  GREATEST  NEED. 


59 


unto  life.  Every  such  conversion  has  more  moral  ^orce 
to  bring  men  to  repentance  than  a  sermon.  Some  can- 
not believe  for  days;  they  struggle  and  pray,  and  see 
more  to  give  up,  and  give  up  all,  and  their  "chains  fall," 
"their  dungeon  flames  with  light." 

When  a  genuine  revival  is  in  the  pause  before  the  mighty 
movements  of  the  power  of  God  there  is  danger  that  some 
of  God's  people  will  be  impatient,  and  transform  the  gen- 
uine into  the  spurious  revival.  But  the  minister  that 
walketh  wisely  shall  be  delivered.  If  there  be  but  forty 
in  this  revival,  most  of  them  will  be  found  after  many 
days.  If  there  be  a  hundred  in  the  other,  but  a  few  of 
them  will  remain,  and  of  the  few  who  do,  some  will  be 
tares. 

Invitations,  appeals,  songs  of  different  kinds,  are  com'' 
mon  to  both;  the  fundamental  difference  is,  that  in  the 
spurious  the  fallow  ground  is  not  broken  up ;  in  the 
genuine  it  is.  The  one  is  on  the  surface:  the  other  goes 
to  the  depths  of  the  nature.  The  one  changes  the  pro- 
fession only,  the  other  the  profession  and  the  life. — From 
Christian  Advocate. 

After  twenty-five  years  of  experience  in  evangelistic 
work,  largely  with  churches  of  various  denominations, 
we  are  clear  to  declare  that  many  pastors  and  churches 
neither  understand  or  desire  what  is  described  in  the  above 
article  as  a  genuine  revival.  Many  of  them  have  never 
witnessed  such  an  awakening  and  have  no  comprehension 
of  the  great  need  of  thorough  work.  We  have  been  called 
to  help  in  many  churches  where  both  pastor  and  people 
were  well  pleased  until  God,  in  answer  to  prayer,  began 
to  break  up  the  deep  of  hearts,  and  professors  began  to 
confess  their  faults  and  ask  forgiveness  of  each  other 


60 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


and  of  outsiders,  and  make  crooked  things  straight. 
Then,  in  some  cases  the  pastor,  and  in  many  cases  world- 
ly-minded church  members,  and  perhaps  the  leading  and 
official  members,  became  alarmed  and  began  to  bitterly 
oppose  the  work  of  God. 

Is  it  not  time  to  cry  aloud  and  spare  not  to  lift  up 
the  voice  Hke  a  trumpet  and  show  the  people  of  God  their 
transgressions  and  the  house  of  Jacob  their  sins?  Sure- 
ly the  need  beside  which  every  other  need  sinks  into  in- 
significance is  an  old  time  revival,  a  deep  and  wide-spread 
old-time  revival. 

We  are  no  pessimists.  We  do  not  for  a  moment  lose 
sight  of  the  fact  that  the  foundations  of  God  stand  sure. 
We  do  not  for  a  moment  question  that  God  has  his  thou- 
sands that  have  not  bowed  the  knee  to  the  world,  the 
flesh,  or  the  devil,  nor  been  swept  from  their  mooring 
by  the  present  floodtide  of  false  teaching  and  doctrine. 
These  unite  in  declaring  that  the  only  remedy  for  the  evils 
we  deplore  is  an  old  time  revival — a  revival  brought 
about  by  the  mighty  working  of  the  spirit  of  God  in 
awakening  and  quickening  and  saving  power.  O  for  a 
revival  that  will  turn  the  professed  people  of  God  back 
from  their  idols  of  sin  and  worldliness  to  serve  the  true 
and  living  God — back  from  their  ^'broken  cisterns"  to  the 
"Fountain  of  living  waters."  A  revival  in  which  the 
Word  of  God  will  be  preached  without  compromise  or 
apology  in  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost  sent  down  from 
heaven.  A  revival  that  will  overthrow  sin  of  every  kind, 
popular  as  well  as  unpopular.  A  revival  that  will  take 
every  desire  for  worldly  amusements  and  abolish  every 
ungodly  scheme  for  raising  money  for  the  support  of 
the  gospel.    A  revival    that  will  sweep  away  the  pride 


OUR  GREATEST  NEED. 


61 


that  prompts  all  worldly  conformity  and  extravagance 
in  dress  and  manner  of  life,  and  melt  the  millions  of  dol- 
lars worth  of  gold  that  is  now  used  to  adorn  the  body, 
into  coin  and  dedicate  it  to  God  for  carrying  the  gospel 
to  the  heathen.  A  revival  that  will  take  the  people  out 
of  their  worldly  clubs  and  societies  and  secret  lodges  and 
put  them  into  the  ''secret  place  of  the  Most  High"  where 
they  will  "abide  under  the  shadow  of  the  Almighty." 

A  revival  that  will  save  the  people  of  God  from  covet- 
ousness  and  love  of  the  world  and  all  uncleanness  of  spir- 
it, mind  and  body.  A  revival  in  which  professors  of  re- 
ligion will  have  their  eyes  opened  to  see  and  feel  their 
responsibility  for  souls  and  in  which  they  will  confess 
with  broken  hearts  their  former  backslidings,  their  care- 
lessness and  indifference,  and  in  thousands  of  cases  their 
actual  transgressions  of  the  horal  law.  A  revival  that 
like  a  flood  will  "sweep  away  the'  refuge  of  lies"  and 
"overflow  the  hiding  places"  of  all  them  that  would  hide 
away  from  the  light  of  God's  Spirit.  A  revival  that  will 
unearth  and  uncover  every  device  of  Satan  for  deceiving 
souls,  whether  found  in  the  church  or  outside  of  it,  "For 
the  secret  of  the  Lord  is  with  them  that  fear  him ;  and 
he  will  show  unto  them  his  covenant."  A  revival  that  will 
make  both  the  church  and  the  world  to  reaHze  the  short- 
ness of  time  and  the  importance  of  eternity.  A  revival  in 
which  judgment  light  will  shine  not  only  on  the  unsaved 
but  in  which  God's  people  will  see  their  duty  and  realize 
their  opportunity  as  those  that  have  lost  sight  of  the 
things  of  time  in  the  light  of  the  coming  Judgment.  A 
revival  that  will  make  heaven  and  hell,  Calvary  and  the 
resurrection,  salvation  from  sin,  cleansing  through  the 
blood,  and  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  living  realities  by 


62 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


the  revelation  of  the  Spirit  in  harmony  with  the  Word. 
A  revival  in  which  the  sinfulness  of  sin  will  be  so 
revealed  that  instead  of  excusing  and  pleading  for  it,  souls 
will  turn  from  it  in  utter  loathing  and  cry  out  "O  wretched 
man  that  I  am  who  shall  deliver  me  from  this  body  of 
death"  (See  Wesley's  notes  on  Rom.  7:  24)  and  refuse  to 
find  comfort  in  any  thought  of  imputed  righteousness  as 
a  covering  for  sin  but  cry  out  for  deliverance  from  every 
wrong  affection  and  from  every  evil  thought  and  desire  and 
rest  not  until  the  old  man  is  crucified  with  Christ  and  the 
very  body  of  sin  destroyed.  A  revival  that  will  sweep  away 
selfishness  and  narrqwness  and  all  sectarian  spirit  and 
bring  those  that  now  spend  their  time  in  criticism  of  each 
other  down  on  their  faces  together  before  the  Lord,  crying 
out  for  the  salvation  of  lost  souls. 

A  revival  that  like  a  tornado  will  sweep  away  all  the 
old  dried  up  sermons  and  all  the  cold  formal  prayers 
and  all  the  lifeless  singing,  and  like  a  whirlwind  will  carry 
every  one  that  comes  in  its  path  heavenward.  A  revival 
that  will  fill  the  hearts  of  saints  with  holy  love  and  so 
burden  the  hearts  of  God's  ministers  that  the  word  of 
God  will  be  like  fire  shut  up  in  their  bones.  (See  Jer. 
20:  9.)  A  revival  that  will  help  the  people  to  honor 
God  with  their  substance  and  so  have  their  barns  filled 
with  plenty.  (See  Prov.  3:  9,  10.)  A  revival  that  will 
open  the  windows  of  heaven  by  bringing  all  God's  tithes 
into  his  storehouse.  A  revival  that  will  so  fill  the  saints 
with  love  that  they  will  rejoice  in  the  opportunity  to  give 
their  time  and  money  and  if  needs  be  their  very  lives 
for  their  brethren  and  for  the  salvation  of  a  lost  world. 
A  revival  in  which  the  presence  of  God  will  be  so  revealed 
that  multitudes  will  fall  under  the  power  of  God  and  cry 


OUR  GREATEST  NEED. 


63 


for  mercy  as  they  did  on  the  day  of  Pentecost.  A  re- 
vival that  has  so  much  of  Heaven  and  so  much  of  God's 
glory  in  it  that  all  the  world  will  be  compelled  to  see  and 
feel  its  mighty  influence.  A  revival  that  will  gloriously  de- 
feat the  powers  of  darkness  and  hell  and  make  earth  and 
heaven  ring  with  shouts  of  victory  over  a  multitude  of 
souls  snatched  from  the  eternal  burnings  and  won  for  God 
and  heaven — yea  a  revival  that  will  never  need  to  be  re- 
vived, but  that  will  sweep  on  like  a  mighty  wave  of  the  sea 
that  nothing  can  hinder,  until  time  shall  be  no  more ! 

For  such  a  revival  our  heart  cries  out  to  God !  For 
such  a  revival  we  are  ready  to  watch  and  toil  and  pray. 
For  such  a  revival  we  believe  the  blessed  Holy  Spirit  is 
interceding  in  many  hearts.  Such  a  revival  God  is  able 
and  ready  to  give.  But  for  this  He  must  be  enquired  of 
by  his  people  to  do  it  for  them.    (See  Ezek.  36:  37.) 

May  God  grant  it  not  for  our  sakes,  but  for  His  own 
name's  sake  and  for  His  own  honor  and  glory!  Amen 
and  amen. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


PREPARATION  FOR  AN  OLD  TIME  REVIVAL. 

Wilt  thou  not  revive  us  again:  that  thy  people  may  rejoice  in  thee?  Shew 
us  thy  mercy,  O  Lord,  and  grant  us  thy  salvation.  I  will  hear  what  God  the 
Lord  will  speak:  for  he  will  speak  peace  unto  his  people,  and  to  his  saints:  but 
let  them  not  turn  again  lo  folly.  Surely  his  salvation  is  nigh  them  that  fear 
him;  that  glory  may  dwell  in  our  land.  Mercy  and  truth  are  met  together; 
righteousness  and  peace  have  kissed  each  other.  Truth  shall  spring  out  of  the 
earth;  and  righteousness  shall  look  down  from  heaven.  Yea,  the  Lord  shall  give 
that  which  is  good;  and  our  land  shall  yield  her  increase.  Righteousness  shall 
go  before  him;  and  shall  set  us  in  the  way  of  his  steps.    Psa.  85:  6-13. 

Bring  ye  all  the  tithes  into  the  storehouse,  that  there  may  bo  meat  in  mine 
house,  and  prove  me  now  herewith,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  if  I  will  not  open 
you  the  windows  of  heaven,  and  pour  j^ou  out  a  blessing,  that  there  shall  not 
be  room  enough  to  receive  it.    Mai.  8:  10. 

Comfort  ye,  comfort  ye  my  people,  saith  your  God.  Speak  ye  comfortably 
to  Jerusalem,  and  cry  unto  her,  that  her  warfare  is  accomplished,  that  her  iniq- 
uity is  pardoned:  for  she  hath  received  of  the  Lord's  hand  double  for  all  her 
sins.  The  voice  of  him  that  crieth  in  the  wilderness.  Prepare  ye  the  way  of 
the  Lord,  make  straight  in  the  desert  a  highway  for  our  God.  Every  valley 
shall  be  exalted,  and  every  mountain  and  hill  shall  be  made  low:  and  the  crooked 
shall  be  made  straight,  and  the  rough  places  plain:  And  the  glory  of  the  Lord 
shall  be  revealed,  and  all  fiesh  shall  see  it  together:  for  the  mouth  of  the 
Lord  hath  spoken  it.    Isa.  40:  1-5. 

0  Lord,  I  have  heard  thy  speech,  and  was  afraid:  0  Lord,  revive  thy  work  in 
the  midst  of  the  years,  in  the  midst  of  the  years  make  known;  in  wrath  remem- 
ber mercy.    Hab.  3:  2. 

Come,  and  let  us  return  unto  the  Lord:  for  he  hath  torn,  and  he  will  heal 
us;  he  hath  smitten,  and  he  will  bind  us  up.  After  two  days  will  Tie  revive  us: 
in  the  third  day  he  will  raise  us  up,  and  we  shall  live  in  his  sight.  Then  shall 
we  know-  .  if  we  follow  on  to  know  the  Lord:  his  going  forth  is  prepared  aa 
the  morning;  and  he  ^hall  come  unto  us  as  the  rain,  as  the  latter  and  former 
rain  unto  the  earth.    Hos.  6:  1-3. 

Repent  ye  therefore,  and  be  converted,  that  your  sins  may  be  blotted  out, 
when  the  times  of  refreshing  shall  come  from  the  presence  of  the  I^ord.  Acto 
3:  19. 

Genuine  revivals  are  not  gotten  up  nor  worked  up  by 
merely  human  effort.  They  *'do  not  come  that  way." 
They  are  ''born,  not  made."  They  are  from  heaven  and 
of  divine  origin.  God  is  their  author  and  the  Holy  Spirit 
is  his  executor  and  director.  Human  instrumentality  is 
needful  but  only  in  submission  to  the  divine  will  and  pow- 
er. He  who  would  be  a  co-worker  with  God  in  the  salva- 
tion of  men  must  needs  be,  so  far  as  perfect  submission 


PREPARATION  FOR  A  REVIVAL. 


65 


and  dependence  upon  divine  power  and  energy  are  con- 
cerned, like  clay  in  the  hands  of  the  potter. 

Those  who  would  be  greatly  used  of  God  in  the  salva- 
tion of  souls  must  be  dead  to  the  praise  of  men,  dead  to 
self  importance,  and  self-seeking,  dead  to  everything  but 
the  glory  of  God  and  the  value  of  immortal  souls,  seeking 
the  honor  that  cometh  from  God  only.  All  the  old  leaven 
must  be  taken  out  of  their  hearts  and  lives  that  the  new 
leaven  may  have  full  control  and  that  they  may  have  no 
other  desire  than  to  glorify  God  in  their  spirits  and  in 
their  bodies  that  are  his.  Everything  in  their  hearts  that 
would  incline  them  to  be  satisfied  with  shallow  work 
must  be  cleansed  away  by  the  blood  of  Christ.  Where  God 
has  his  way,  Christian  workers  will  not  be  satisfied  with 
anything  that  does  not  satisfy  God,  and  working  in  har- 
mony with  the  Spirit  and  under  his  direction,  they  will 
have  a  faith  that  "laughs  at  impossibilities  and  cries,  It 
must  be  done." 

Those  whom  God  honors  in  bringing  about  a  revival 
are  those  who  have  taken  to  heart  the  desolation  of  Zion 
and  have  poured  out  their  souls — not  in  criticism  and 
fault-finding,  but  in  confession  and  tears  on  their  faces 
before  the  Lord,  because  of  the  abominations  that  are 
done  in  the  midst  of  her.  They  realize  that  in  a  genuine 
revival,  sandy  foundations  must  give  way,  and  everything 
that  will  not  stand  the  light  and  fire  of  the  Judgment  Day 
must  be  thrown  aside  in  order  that  the  true  foundation 
may  be  reached — the  foundation  that  God  has  laid  and 
against  which  the  combined  powers  of  earth  and  hell  can- 
not prevail. 

From  the  human  side,  true  revivals  are  born  of  in- 
tense desire  and  prevailing  prayer — wrought  by  the  power 


66 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


of  the  Holy  Ghost  in  the  heart'  of  one  or  more  of  God's 
children.  Reproduction  and  increase  is  the  law  of  life 
whether  vegetable,  animal  or  spirrtiial.  God  designs  his 
spiritual  church  to  be  fruitful  and  multiply  and  replenish 
the  earth  with  spiritual  children.  As  consistently  might 
we  expect  God  to  perpetuate  the  oak  by  the  direct  crea- 
tion of  acorns  as  to  expect  children  to  be  given  to  the 
church  without  travail  of  soul.  "When  Zion  travails  she 
shall  bring  forth,"  is  as  much  the  law  of  spiritual  life  as 
that  human  life  is  the  result  of  human  parentage.  God 
never  forces  this  spiritual  travail  upon  an  unwilling  church, 
but  the  Holy  Ghost  at  all  times  intercedes  in  the  hearts 
of  those  who  live  close  to  God  and  who  sufficiently  com- 
prehend and  desire  this  intercession  of  the  Spirit,  for  an 
increase  of  the  power  of  God  to  be  revealed  in  the  salva- 
tion of  souls. 

Generally  speaking,  the  more  direct  and  visible  means 
used  to  bring  about  a  revival  is  the  strong  faithful  preach- 
ing of  the  Word,  resulting  in  a  manifestation  of  humility 
and  repentance  on  the  part  of  God's  professed  people. 

Some  looking  at  the  sovereignty  of  God,  have  said, 
''When  God's  time  comes  to  revive  his  work.  He  will  do 
it.   We  can  neither  hasten  nor  hinder  it.'* 

Others  looking  at  the  freedom  of  the  human  will  have 
said  in  their  unbelief,  "God  will  do  nothing  until  the  peo- 
pie  are  willing."  BotTi  are  wrong.  The  truth  lies  between 
these  two  extremes.  God  has  plainly  declared  that  it  is 
not  His  will  that  any  should  perish — but  that  all  should 
turn  unto  Him  and  live.  He  has  also  declared  that  "Now 
is  the  'accepted  time  and  now  is  the  day  of  salvation." 
With  these  two  plain  statements,  agree  the  entire  word 
of  God ;  and  they  prove  beyond  all  question  that  God  wills 


PREPARATION  FOR  A  REVIVAL. 


67 


the  salvation  of  every  responsible  human  being  and 'that 
the  time  when  this  is  His  choice  for  every  creature  is  the 
present.  God  wills  all  men  to  be  saved;  and  H©-  wills 
all  men  to  be  saved  now.  Yet  all  men  are  not  saved. 
Why?  Because  mankind  by  the  power  of  choice,  which  is 
essential  to  character,  stand  in  the  way.  God's  plan  of 
salvation  recognizes  first  the  individuality  of  every  hu- 
man being;  and  secondly  the  necessity  of  atonement  and 
sacrifice  and  intercession — both  divine  and  human. 

If  the  church  of  God  waits  for  a  revival  until  all  con- 
ditions are  met,  she  will  wait  till  time  is  lost  in  eternity. 
"God's  good  time"  is  now;  and  everything  that  hinders 
just  such  a  revival  as  that  described  in  our  last  chapter, 
is  on  the  human  side.  God  works  just  as  mightily  as  He 
is  able  to  work  in  full  recognition  of  man's  power  of  choice 
and  slowness  to  believe  and  obey  God.  The  Holy  Ghost 
is  at  all  times  striving  to  bring  about  a  revival;  and  will  \ 
use  for  this  any  and  every  heart  that  is  ready  and  willing 
to  be  so  used  according  to  its  capacity.  And  for  this, 
Gjod  can  use  large  hearts  coupled  with  small  intellectual 
powers  far  better  than  large  powers  of  intellect,  coupled 
with  little  faith  and  love. 

PREVAILING  PRAYER  POSSIBLE 

Some  degree  of  influence  over  human  hearts,  God 
holds  in  his  own  hands.  The  Holy  Spirit  is  in  the  world 
to  reprove  men  of  sin  and  of  righteousness  and  of  judg- 
ment. Whether  the  church  is  right  or  not — whether  she 
does  or  whether  slie  does  not  do  that  which  God  demands. 
God's  spirit  brings  to  every  responsible  soul  sufficient 
light  to  make  possible  his  salvation. 

The  condemnation  of  every  lost  soul  is  going  to  be: 
"Ye  would  not  come  unto  me  that  ye  might  have  life." 
Yet  this  does  not  imply  that  the  choice  of  many  such  souls 


68 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


might  not,  by  better  influence,  have  been  turned  in  the 
right  direction  for  Christ,  who  knew  the  hearts  of  all 
men,  declared  that  if  the  cities  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah 
had  had  the  opportunities  given  to  Capernaum,  they  would 
have  repented  in  sack-cloth  and  ashes. 

It  is,  then,  beyond  question,  the  fact  that  the  destiny 
of  souls  very  largely  depends  upon  human  instrumentali- 
ty— that  in  spite  of  God's  power  and  willingness — in  spite 
of  his  infinite  love  and  mercy — in  spite  of  the  prayer  and 
intercession  and  sufferings  of  Christ,  souls  have  been  and 
are  being  lost  that  might  have  been  and  might  B^e  won. 

What  is  lacking?  On  God's  part,  nothmg.  A  full 
price  has  been  paid.  Mercy  is  offered.  Redemption  is  free. 
''The  grace  of  God  that  bringeth  salvation  hath  appeared 
to  all  men."  To  take  in  lost  souls,  hell  has  had  to  be 
enlarged.  God  never  designed  it  for  them.  What,  then, 
is  lacking?  We  answer,  men  to  stand  in  the  gap! — hu- 
man hearts  that  are  ready  to  be  used  by  the  Spirit  of 
God  in  toil  and  sacrifice,  in  wrestling  prayer  and  loving 
intercession — hearts  so  filled  with  divine  love  that  they 
cannot  and  will  not  be  denied.  We  are  taught  in  the 
Word  of  God  that  sin  makes  a  gap  in  the  hedge  of  pro- 
tection round  about  nations  and  individuals  and  through 
this  gap,  God  will  come  in  judgment  unless  there  be  found 
those  who  by  prayer  and  intercession  prevail  to  secure 
mercy  instead  of  justice.  So  wonderfully  does  God  de- 
light to  have  mercy  that  in  a  time  of  gross  sin  and  idola- 
try in  Israel  He  Himself  declared :  "I  sought  for  a  man 
from  among  them  that  should  make  up  the  hedge  and 
stand  in  the  gap  before  me  for  the  land,  that  I  should 
not  destroy  it ;  but  I  found  none."   (Ezek.  22 :  30.) 

Abraham  interceded  for  Sodom  and  could  have  pre- 


PREPARATION  FOR  A  REVIVAL. 


69 


vailed  had  there  been  ten  righteous  to  be  found  in  the 
city.  And  who  knows  but  had  his  faith  been  stronger  he 
alone  might  have  prevailed?  Moses,  alone  interceded  for 
rebellious  Israel  when  the  justice  of  God  demanded  their 
utter  destruction  and  God  granted  him  the  desire  of  his 
heart.  Samuel  "cried  unto  the  Lord  for  Israel  and  the 
Lord  heard  him"  and  "the  Philistines  were  subdued,  and 
they  came  no  more  into  the  coasts  of  Israel;  and  the 
hand  of  the  Lord  was  against  the  Philistines  all  the  days 
of  Samuel."  Daniel,  Ezra,  and  Nehemiah  prevailed  for 
Israel  in  their  captivity  and  God  opened  their  way  and 
brought  them  back  to  their  own  land. 

In  Jeremiah  5:1,  God  commanded:  "Run  ye  to  and 
fro  through  the  streets  of  Jerusalem,  and  see  now,  and 
know,  and  seek  in  the  broad  places  thereof,  if  ye  can  find 
a  man,  if  there  be  any  that  executeth  judgment,  that  seek- 
eth  the  truth ;  and  I  will  pardon  it." 

John  Knox,  with  his  soul  stirred  to  its  inmost  depths, 
cried  out  "Give  me  Scotland  or  I  die."  He  lived,  and 
Scotland  was  not  only  miraculously  delivered  but  mightily 
influenced  for  God  and^  righteousness.  O  thou  church 
of  the  living  God!  Nothing  but  the  infinite  merit  of  the 
blood  of  Jesus  can  deliver  you  from  the  blood  of  lost  souls ! 
O  individual  Christian,  God  saved  you,  not  for  your  sake 
alone  but  that  He  might,  through  you,  save  others  whom 
He  loved  as  well  as  you ;  and  if  you  had  walked  in  all  the 
light  given  and  the  added  light  that  would  have  come  to 
you,  if  God  had  had  all  his  way  in  your  heart,  He  alone 
knows  what  your  life  might  have  accomplished  in  the  sal- 
vation of  others.  So  far  as  God  is  concerned,  every  lost 
soul  is  without  excuse ;  but  so  far  as  the  neglect  and  the 


70 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


faithlessness  of  God's  professed  children  are  concerned,  the 
blood  of  lost  souls  is  upon  them ! 

God's  power  and  willingness  to  revive  his  work  in  spite 
of  great  obstacles  is  clearly  pictured  in  the  thirty-sixth 
chapter  of  Ezekiel.  The  absolutely  necessary  condition 
on  the  human  side,  in  the  beginning,  is  shown  to  be  not 
that  conditions  should  be  favorable  but  that  there  should 
be  some  hearts  so  given  up  to  God  that  the  Holy  Ghost 
can  use  them  in  intercession,  strong,  constant,  and  persist- 
ent. 

In  exposition  of  tiie  Scripture  referred  to  we  quote  the 
following : 

SERMON  BY  MRS.  S.  B.  SHAW  AT  HOLINESS  ASSEMBLY 
HELD  IN  CHICAGO  MAY,  1901. 

Dearly  Beloved !  If  there  be  any  reason  in  the  provi- 
dence of  God  why  I  should  be  here  to-day,  you  know^  as 
well  as  I,  that  it  is  not  the  mere  preaching  of  a  sermon. 
There  are  too  many  here  that  can  do  that  better  than  1. 
If  there  be  any  reason,  it  is  that  I  might  bring  to  you 
something  of  the  lesson  that  I  believe,  in  my  inmost  soul, 
God  has  been  writing  on  my  heart  by  the  power  of  His 
blessed  Spirit,  during  the  last  three  months. 

I  invite  your  attention  this  afternoon  to  part  of  the 
thirty-seventh  verse  of  the  thirty-sixth  Chapter  of  Eze- 
kiel; ''Thus  saith  the  Loi'd  God:  I  will  yet  for  this  be 
enquired  of  by  the  house  of  Israel,  to  do  it  for  them." 

The  "this"  referred  to  in  the  text  was  a  deep,  thor- 
ough, wide-spread,  searching  revival — a  glorious,  revival 
in  Israel,  promised  and  described  in  the  chapter  from 
which  the  text  is  taken.  I  invite  your  attention  to  a  study 
of  this  revival  for  God  is  an  unchangeable  God  and  if  we 
can  learn  what  He  did  for  His  professed  church  and  His 


PREPARATION  FOR  A  , REVIVAL. 


71 


professed  people  under  certain  circumstances  and  con- 
ditions in  the  olden  time,  then  we  may  know  what  He  is 
willing  and  able  and  waiting  to  do  for  His  professed 
church  to-day.  I  say  His  professed  church  for  I  as^  you 
to  notice  that  Israel  in  this  chapter  and  in  this  connection 
meant  not  Israelites  indeed  in  whom  there  was  no  guile, 
but  the  professed  people  of  God — those  who  had  been 
known  and  were  called  by  His  name.  Here  I  believe 
as  Holiness  People  we  have  sometimes  made  a  mistake. 
We  have  sometimes  seemed  to  think  that  God  cared  noth- 
ing for  His  professed  church  as  such ;  but  I  believe  that 
this  is  a  sad  mistake  and  that  the  Scriptures  abundantly 
confirm  me  in  this.  All  of  God's  dealings  with  His  Israel 
of  old  show  that  in  spite  of  their  rebellion  and  hardness 
of  heart  they  were  precious  in  his  sight.  When  they 
were  disobedient  and  rebellious  He  chastened  them  and  if 
they  returned  not,  He  suffered  them  even  to  be  carried 
away  captive  into  the  land  of  their  enemies — yet  because 
they  were  called  by  his  name,  He  was  jealous  over  them 
and  when  thejy-  enemies  rejoiced  in  their  downfall  He 
visited  them  in  awful  vengeance  because  they  rejoiced 
over  the  calamity  of  Israel.  Nor  did  He  give  Israel  up 
because  of  their  sin — nor  has  He  given  them  up ;  for  Paul 
plainly  tells  us  that  they  are  to  be  grafted  in  again  and 
both  the  Old  and  the  New  Testaments  promise  that  Israel 
shall  be  restored.  So  I  beheve  God  cares  for  his  professed 
church  today  and  as  it  was  his  will  to  grant  a  sweeping 
revival  in  Israel  in  the  olden-time,  so  it  is  his  will  and  He 
wants  us  to  ask  for  and  expect  a  sweeping  revival  today 
— not  outside  of  the  church  but  in  the  church — and  that 
for  this  end,  in  spite  of  difficulties,  we  should  labor  and 
pray  and  believe. 


72 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


In  Studying  this  revival  promised  by  the  prophet  I 
call  your  attention  to  five  things. 

1.  Prevailing  Conditions.  It  was  a  time  of  desolation 
— a  time  when  the  church  seemed  to  have  no  cause  to  ex- 
pect favor  at  the  hands  of  God.  For  disobedience,  God 
had  chastened  her  and  because  of  her  continued  disobe- 
dience and  terrible  idolatry  she  had  been  carried  away  cap- 
tive into  Babylon.  From  the  human  standpoint,  she  had 
no  claim  on  the  mercy  of  God — no  right  to  expect  His 
favor  or  a  gracious'  outpouring  of  His  Spirit.  Yet  in  spite 
of  her  unworthiness  God  declared  that  He  was  for  her  and 
would  turn  unto  her  and  that  He  would  take  her  from 
among  the  heathen  and  bring  her  unto  her  own  land. 

2.  God's  Reason  for  Promising  a  Revival.  What 
moved  God,  then,  to  make  this  vow?  What  moved  God 
to  declare  He  would  send  to  them  the  heathen  round  about 
and  bring  them  back,  and  that  He  would  build  the  waste 
places,  and  the  land  of  Canaan  should  no  longer  be  des- 
olate of  souls  ?  Not  the  worthiness  of  the  church ;  not  the 
spirituality  of  the  church,  but  the  glory  o^  His  own  name. 
God  values  us  for  His  own  name's  sake.  This  is  plainly 
stated  in  the  twenty-first  and  twenty-second  verses  of  this 
same  chapter.  ''But  I  had  pity  for  mine  holy  name,  which 
the  house  of  Israel  had  profaned  among  the  heathen, 
whither  they  went.  Therefore  say  unto  the  house  of  Israel, 
Thus  saith  the  Lord  God;  I  do  not  this  for  your  sakes, 
O  house  of  Israel  but  for  mine  holy  name's  sake,  which 
ye  have  profaned  among  the  heathen,  whither  ye  went." 
God  promised,  then,  a  revival  not  because  of  the  worthi- 
ness or  the  faithfulness  of  the  church,  but  for  the  glory  of 
His  own  name. 


PREPARATION  FOR  A  REVIVAL. 


73 


3.  The  Source  and  Beginning  of  this  revival.  This 
was  not  in  Israel,  but  in  the  mind  and  purpose  and  plan  of 
God-  God  saw  not  the  worthiness  of  His  people  but  the 
reproach  brought  upon  His  own  name  by  their  unworthi- 
ness — even  the  profaning  of  His  own  name  among  the 
heathen.  In  other  words  He  saw  the  terrible  need  and 
declared  that  He  had  hfted  up  His  hand  in  behalf  of  Israel 
and  against  her  enemies. 

4.  The  Thoroughness  of  this  promised  revival.  This 
thoroughness  was  to  be  shown,  first,  in  deep  repentance 
and  humilty.  "Then  shall  ye  remember  your  own  evil 
ways  and  your  doings  which  were  not  good,  and  shall 
loathe  yourselves  in  your  own  sight  for  your  iniquities  and 
for  your  abominations.  (Verse  31.)  Moreover  this  re- 
vival was  to  be  a  holiness  revival.  Its  thoroughness  was 
shown  in  the  second  place  by  the  thorough  cleansing  of 
their  hearts  and  their  restoration  to  their  own  land,  the 
land  of  Canaan.  ''For  I  will  take  you  from  among  the 
heathen,  and  gather  you  out  of  all  countries,  and  will  bring 
you  into  your  own  land.  Then  will  I  sprinkle  clean  water 
upon  you  and  ye  shall  be  clean :  from  all  your  filthiness  and 
from  all  your  idols  will  I  cleanse  you.  A  new  heart  also 
will  I  give  you  and  a  new  spirit  will  I  put  within  you :  and 
I  will  take  away  the  stony  heart  out  of  your  flesh  and  I 
will  give  you  a  heart  of  flesh."  (Verses  24-26.)  Its  thor- 
oughness was  also  to  be  shown  by  its  permanent  results. 
''And  I  will  put  my  spirit  within  you,  and  cause  you  to 
walk  in  my  statutes,  and  ye  shall  keep  my  commandments, 
and  do  them.  And  ye  shall  dwell  in  the  land  that  I  gave 
to  your  fathers ;  and  I  will  call  for  the  corn,  and  will  in- 
crease it,  and  lay  no  famine  upon  you.    And  I  will  multi- 


74 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


ply  the  fruit  of  the  tree  and  the  increase  of  the  field,  that 
ye  shall  receive  no  more  reproach  of  famine  among  the 
heathen."    (Verses  27-30.) 

5.  The  Condition  upon  which  this  revival  was  prom- 
ised— as  shown  in  the  text  itself.  "I  will  yet  for  this  be 
enquired  of  by  the  house  of  Israel  to  do  it  for  them." 
Prayer,  then,  was  the  only  condition  named  "on  the  human 
side  in  the  accomplishment  of  the  will  of  God  in  the  re- 
vival of  Israel. 

Now,  beloved,  in  harmony  with  these  points  to  which 
I  have  called  your  attention,  I  would  bring  to  you  the 
lesson  that  God  has,  as  I  said  before,  been  deeply  im- 
pressing upon  my  own  heart,  during  these  last  few 
months. 

We  noticed  first  that  it  was  a  time  of  great  desolation 
in  Israel,  and  her  faith  had  no  claim  to  the  mercy  of  God. 
She  had  gone  away  from  His  service.  She  was  cold  and 
indifferent,  bowing  down  to  false  gods.  By  the  chastening 
of  God,  all  her  lands  were  laid  waste  and  her  people  were 
carried  away  captive  into  Babylon.  We  read  that  the 
prophet  was  to  speak  to  the  mountains  of  Israel,  as  if 
they  alone  were  left  to  hear  the  word  that  was  spoken. 

0  beloved,  you  may  draw  the  picture  as  dark  as  you 
choose  of  the  need  of  the  professed  church  to-day — of  her 
coldness,  her  indifference  her  worldliness,  her  idolatry. 
Still,  the  word  of  God  gives  you  ground  for  confidence 
in  a  revival, — a  sweeping  revival  in  Israel. 

1  say  it  was  a  time  of  desolation.  God  always  has 
chastened  His  people,  when  disobedient.  I  presume  He 
always  will.  When  the  church  grows  cold  and  careless 
and  indifferent  to  any  degree ;  when  to  any  degree  she  loses 


PREPARATION  FOR  A  REVIVAL.. 


75 


sight  of  the  glory  of  God  and  His  salvation — her  one  object 
and  cause  of  existence, — ^just  to  that  degree  God  withholds 
his  blessing  from  her.  This  was  a  time  of  famine — a  famine 
of  souls.  Beloved!  What  is  this  cry  we  hear  to-day? 
What  is  the  message  we  read  in  nearly  every  Christian  pa- 
per? It  is  the  cry  that  we  need  a  revival.  This  cry  comes 
from  the  Episcopalians,  the  Presbyterians,  the  Baptists,  the 
Methodists,  the  Congregationalists.  We  read  this  mes- 
sage in  denominational  and  undenominational  papers. 
Ministers  in  their  conferences  and  their  presbyteries  are 
asking,  "Why  is  the  church  with  all  its  power  and  all  its 
wealth  and  all  its  carefully  laid  plans  and  all  its  multiplied 
organization  making  so  little  real  progress  ?  Why  is  her 
membership  not  increased?  Why  is  she  not  accomplishing 
greater  results?  Why  are  her  members  being  carried 
away  in  captivity  to  worldliness  and  sin?  Why  are  the 
thousands  round  about  us  unmoved?  Why  will  they  not 
attend  our  services  ?  .  Why  can  the  Christian  church  not 
accomplish  in  the  evangelization  of  the  world  what  she 
accomplished  in  the  first  two  or  three  centuries  of  her 
existence?  Beloved,  what  is  all  this  but  an  acknowledg- 
ment that  God  has  laid  a  famine  upon  us  ?  And  there  is 
a  cause.  God  has  not  laid  a  famine  upon  the  church  with- 
out cause !  Loving  her,  the  church,  as  we  do,  we  are  com- 
pelled to  acknowledge  to  some  extent — and  may  I  not  say 
to  a  large  extent,  she  has  her  eyes  off  of  one  thing:  God 
demands  the  salvation  of  those  about  her  at  every  hazard, 
at  every  cost ! 

I  would  not  ignore  the  good  that  is  being  done.  I 
would  not  question  the  faith  of  the  weakest  of  God's  chil- 
dren, nor  fail  to  encourage  every  spark  of  grace  in  a  hu- 
man heart.    I  believe  there  never  was  a  time  when  I  was 


76 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


disposed  to  break  the  bruised  reed  or  quench  the  smoking 
flax.  But  are  we  to  be  satisfied  with  weakness"?  Are  we 
in  our  love  for  the  church  to  overlook  her  worldliness, 
her  backslidings  ?  By  no  means !  But  on  the  other  hand 
let  us  remember  God's  love  for  His  people  of  old,  and 
that  God  has  said  that  He  is  married  to  the  backslider. 
Let  us  remember  God's  infinite  tenderness  and  patience 
with  us  and  let  us  bear  in  mind  that  it  was  at  such  a 
time  as  this — yea,  truly  at  a  worse  time  than  this,  that 
God  declared  by  His  prophet,  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost, 
that  He  would  send  a  revival.  So  I  believe  to-day  that 
God  has  given  to  many  who  are  taught  of  the  Spirit  a 
promise  of  glorious  and  sweeping  revival  in  the  professed 
church  of  God. 

And  that  our  faith  may  be  strengthened,  let  us  look 
on  the  right  direction.  Let  us  remember  that  this  revival 
had  its  beginning,  not  in  the  mind  of  the  church;  not  in 
the  minds  of  God's  people;  not  in  the  minds  of  those  sanc- 
tified and  true,  but  dn  the  mind  and  purpose  of  God,  Him- 
self. Let  us  remember,  too,  that  God's  purpose  to  grant 
a  revival  was  not  brought  about  by  the  faithfulness  and 
spirituality  of  the  church  but  for  the  glory  of  His  own 
name  and  because  of  the  great  need.  God  had  laid  a  famine 
upon  Israel  but  that  famine  did  not  bring  glory  to  God ! 
On  the  other  hand,  the  heathen  only  profaned  His  name 
the  more  because  of  it.  They  did  not  comprehend  that 
God  was  able  and  willing  to  bless  and  prosper  His  people 
as  of  old  and  was  only  chastening  them  for  their  disobe- 
dience:  They  only  mocked  and  said,  ''The  God  of  Israel 
is  not  able  to  deliver  them  out  of  our  hand." 

So  all  around  us  today  the  name  of  our  God  is  pro- 
faned and  souls  are  hindered  from  yielding  their  hearts 


PREPARATION  FOR  A  REVIVAL. 


77 


to  Him  by  the  spiritual  famine  that  is  upon  us.  They 
do  not  see  that  we  are  being  punished  for  our  sin  and 
unbehef  but  they  say,  ''There  is  nothing  in  the  rehgion 
of  the  Bible."  ''Christian  experience  is  nothing  but  imagi- 
nation." "God  has  no  power  to  save  and  keep  from  sin 
and  build  up  His  people."  "Our  lives  are  as  good  as 
theirs.   Why  should  we  seek  after  their  God?" 

O,  beloved,  this  is  the  saddest  part  of  all !  For  the 
church  to  suffer  is  only  just ;  but  through  this  famine  the 
very  name  of  our  God  is  reproached.  The  name  of  our 
mighty  Redeemer  is  profaned  in  all  the  heathen  world 
'round  about  us,  because  of  our  sin  and  need,  and  be- 
cause of  the  famine  God  has  placed  upon  us. 

O,  Beloved !  There  is  too  much  excuse,  there  is  too 
much  cause,  there  is  too  much  reason;  when  the  men  of 
the  world  'round  about  us  say,  "I  do  not  believe  there  is 
a  man  that  lives  without  sin."  The  church  of  the  living 
God  ought  to  be  a  living  contradiction  to  such  a  state- 
ment as  that!  Surely  the  same  motive  which  led  God  to 
make  His  declaration  to  Israel,  will  lead  Him  to  declare 
in  this  day  that  He  will  send  a  revival.  It  is  the  glory  of 
His  own  blessed  name  that  is  to  be  accomplished  in  such 
a  revival  in  the  church  of  the  living  God!  And  ff  we 
ask  for  it  and  plead  for  it  and  believe  for  it  on  this  ground, 
we  shall  find  our  faith  increasing  and  God  will  answer  our 
prayers.  I  remember  at  one  time  being  greatly  burdened 
for  a  poor,  proud,  wilful  backslider — a  man  whom  God  had 
once  called  to  preach  the  gospel  and  had  used  in  the  sal- 
vation of  souls ;  yet  he  had  wandered  so  far  from  God  that 
he  had  gone  into  spiritualism  and  sin  of  almost  every  kind. 
For  about  two  weeks  a  great  burden  of  prayer  was  upon 
me ;  but  as  I  saw  his  awful  pride  and  rebellion  and  hardness 


78 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


of  heart  my  faith  would  have  utterly  failed  had  not  the 
Holy  Spirit  prompted  the  cry  in  my  heart,  "O  Lord,  for 
Thine  own  name's  sake,  save  that  precious  soul."  I  saw 
the  evil  he  was  doing — the  awful  reproach  he  was  bringing 
upon  the  cause  of  God  and  how  God  might  be  glorified 
in  his  salvation  and  with  that  cry — "For  Thine  own  name's 
sake"  I  was  enabled  to  prevail  and  that  poor  hardened, 
sin-bound  soul  was  brought  in  deepest  humility  to  the  foot 
of  the  cross;  every  sin  was  confessed  and  abandoned  and 
deliverance  and  salvation  came.  And  was  not  God  glorified 
in  his  salvation  more  than  in  his  bondage  and  condemna- 
tion ?  O  brother,  if  you  cannot  prevail  for  the  salvation  of 
souls  and  for  a  revival  in  any  other  way,  plead  the  name 
of  God  Himself — that  His  Name  may  be  glorified. 

We  noticed  also  that  while  this  revival  was  to  begin  in 
the  mind  and  purpose  of  God,  it  was  to  bring,  what  every 
true  revival  always  brings,  heart  transformation.  We  have 
been  saying,  "If  the  people  will  only  repent,  God  will  have 
mercy;  if  people  would  come  to  the  fountain,  God  would 
send  His  blessing."  God  proposes  to  bring  His  people  to 
repentance!  I  believe  in  the  free-will  of  every  soul  that 
God  has  created;  but  I  believe  this  revival  is  to  come 
to  Israel  not  because  she  is  worthy,  but  because  God  pur- 
poses and  wills  it.  He  says,  "They  shall  be  wilHng  in  the 
day  of  my  power."  Sometimes  you  preachers  say  God  can't 
do  anything  until  people  are  willing.  I  say,  if  God  had 
done  nothing  for  me  until  I  had  of  myself  come  to  a  point 
of  voluntary  and  unconditional  surrender,  I  would  never 
have  been  saved.  But  God  for  His  own  mercy's  sake 
wrought  in  my  heart  to  bring  me  to  heart-felt  repentance 
and  submission  to  Himself. 

God  can  and  will,  in  answer  to  prayer,  work  mightily 


PREPARATION  FOR  A  REVIVAL. 


79 


Upon  human  hearts  and  hear  and  answer  the  weakest  long- 
ing of  a  hunfan  soul  after  Himself.  My  case  is  but  the 
experience  of  every  soul  that  is  converted.  God  will  not 
forgive  you  until  you  repent.  But,  if  you  haven't  grace 
enough  in  your  heart  today  to  repent,  you  have  a  right 
to  call  upon  God  to  move  your  soul  to  repentance,  and 
God  is  willing  to  answer  that  prayer.  I  know  I  prayed  that 
prayer  and  He  answered  it  mightily.  I  remember  when 
my  heart  went  out  after  God.  I  knew  I  ought  to  realize 
my  lost  condition.  I  knew  I  ought  to  come,  above  every- 
thing else,  to  seek  the  salvation  of  my  soul,  yet  I  was 
still  cold  and  careless,  until,  from  the  depths  of  my  soul 
there  came  a  prayer  prompted  by  the  Holy  Spirit  that 
God  would  help  me,  and  He,  by  his  own  power,  hum- 
bled my  proud  heart  and  brought  me  where  I  could  seek 
Himi  from  my  very  inmost  soul.  He  answered  the  pray- 
er and  even  the  very  longing  of  my  soul.  When  a  revival 
comes  to  Israel,  the  depths  of  hearts  will  be  broken  up 
and  they  will  be  moved  to  repentance. 

God  doesn't  visit  Israel  with  His  chastenings,  and 
leave  her  in  that  condition.  This  is  not  God's  way.  He 
says,  after  He  comes  and  brings  her  back  into  her  own 
land,  then  she  shall  remember  her  own  evil  ways  and  her 
doings  that  were  not  good  and  shall  loathe  herself  in  her 
own  sight  for  her  iniquities  and  for  her  abominations. 
Let  us  not  say  then  that  when  the  church,  as  a  whole,  re- 
pents, God  will  revive  his  work  but  that  when,  in  answer 
to  the  prayer  of  those  whom  God  can  use,  God  pours  out 
His  Spirit  and  revives  His  work,  the  church  will  repent. 
Then  repentance  will  come.  God  will  see  that  it  does 
come.  God  alone  is  able  to  break  up  the  deep  of  hearts 
and  bring  them  down  in  the  very  depths  of  humility  and 


80 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


sorrow  for  their  coldness  and  their  indif¥erence  and  their 
lack  of  faith  and  love  and  devotion. 

As  we  have  seen,  this  heart  transformation  included 
heart  cleansing  and  restoration  to  Canaan.  As  of  old, 
the  rightful  inheritance  of  the  church  is  purity  and  pros- 
perity.  He  wills  that  His  people  should  dwell  in  the 

•'Land  of  corn  and  wine  and  oil, 
With  every  blessing,  blessed," 

and  in  working  and  praying  for  the  revival  God  promises, 
we  must  be  satisfied  with  nothing  less ! 

A  result  of  that  promised  revival  that  we  did  not  par- 
ticularly mention  was  that  the  waste  places  should  be 
built  up.  O  my  brother,  my  sister,  are  there  any  waste, 
any  desolate  places  in  our  land  to-day — places  that  ought 
to  be  built  up  and  occupied  by  the  church  of  the  living 
God?  Have  we  any  waste  places  in  Chicago?  Are  there 
any  churches  in  Chicago,  where  on  Sunday  morning  there 
is  a  congregation  occupying  a  few  seats  and  thousands 
all  around  them  going  down  to  an  eternal  hell?  These 
waste  places  are  not  only  in  Chicago,  but  all  over  this 
land  we  find  them — the  waste  places,  the  desolate  places. 
God  says  these  waste  places  shall  be  builded  up. 

We  have  been  limiting  the  power  of  our  God!  We 
have  been  looking  the  wrong  way.  God  says,  "I  will  build 
up  the  waste  places."  There  are  none  so  waste  but  that 
God  is  able  to  build  them  up  again.  There  is  no  wilder- 
ness so  desolate,  but  that,  under  God's  blessing,  it  will 
blossom  as  the  rose. 

God  help  us,  and  send  us  down  in  confusion  to-day, 
because  of  our  little  faith  and  love!  O,  beloved,  if  youi 
faith  is  small,  is  it  not  because  your  love  is  so  small  ? 

Some  of  you  may  have  heart-aches  because  of  loved 


PREPARATION  FOR  A  REVIVAL.  81 


ones  out  of  Christ.  For  many  years  my  heart  has  never 
ceased  to  go  out  for  a  loved  one  back-slidden  from  God. 
I  have  cried  from  the  very  depths  of  my  soul  for  God  to 
bring  him  back.  I  never  think  of  him  without  praying 
for  him  and  I  have  never  given  him  up.  I  have  never 
let  go  of  my  hold  on  the  throne  of  God  in  his  behalf. 
I  know  he  is  fighting  against  God.  I  know  he  is  (so  far 
as  I  can  see)  going  farther  and  farther  away,  in  the  re- 
bellion of  his  soul,  from  the  God  that  once  saved  him. 
But  I  have  only  pled  for  him  the  more  earnestly,  "For 
Thine  own  mercy's  sake !  For  Thine  own  name's  sake,'* 
spare  that  blood-bought  soul!  I  cannot  give  him  up!  I 
will  never,  never  give  him  up  so  long  as  God  in  His  mercy 
does  not  utterly  withdraw  the  Spirit's  aid  in  intercession. 
I  don't  expect  to  give  him  up,  until  God  brings  him  back, 
— a  broken  and  a  contrite  soul,  to  Jesus  Christ.  What 
has  given  me  that  faith  ?  It  is  the  love  back  of  it  I  We 
have  given  up  people  too  easily.  We  have  given  up  pas- 
tors, when  they  fought*holiness.  We  have  given  up  broth- 
ers and  sisters  here  and  there.  Why?  Because  we  didn't 
have  faith;  because  we  didn't  love  them  as  we  should, 
had  we  gone  down  in  humility  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  and 
cried  to  God  as  Christ  did  when  He  said :  "Father  for- 
give them,  for  they  know  not  what  they  do."  But  some  of 
you  say  that  those  cold-hearted  men  knew  what  they  were 
doing,  and  that  they  had  the  light,  but  they  drove  in  the 
nails,  and  crucified  him.  In  a  sense  they  did  know ,  ana 
if  Jesus  could  say  what  he  did  in  behalf  of  that  mob,  the 
Holy  Spirit  can  come  to  our  hearts  and  say  it  in  behalf  of 
such  as  those  we  have  mentioned  that  seem  to  fight  against 
the  truth.  Then  before  you  cease  to  pray  for  any  soul 
be  sure  that  that  soul  is  worse  than  the  members  of  that 


82 


6LD  l-IME  RELIGION. 


cruel  mob  that  rejected  the  Savior  and  cried  out,  ^'Crucify 
him,  crucify  him,"  for  doubtless  many  of  them  were  after- 
ward converted  in  answer  to  the  prayer  of  Jesus. 

But  there  is  a  condition.  I  said  that  this  revival  start- 
ed in  the  mind  and  purpose  of  God.  Glory  to  God!  I 
believe  God  speaks,  sometimes,  to  the  hearts  of  the  Chil- 
dren of  Israel,  as  He  spoke  in  olden  times  <to  the  prophets. 
I  believe  He  has  been  telling  his  children  up  and  down 
•our  land  in  their  places  of  prayer  that  He  will  build  up 
the  waste  places  and  send  a  revival  to  the  church;  but 
He  says :  "I  will  yet  for  this  be  inquired  of  by  the  house  of 
Israel,  to  "do  it  for  them."  The  very  first  thing  God  does  in 
bringing  about  a  revival  is  to  grant  an  especial  spirit  of 
intercession  for  such  a  revival  to  souls  that  are  moved  by 
the  burning  love  of  Jesus.  I  said  to  you,  beloved,  I  be- 
lieved that  God  had  promised  it.  I  can't  tell  you  how 
God  has  moved  my  soul  the  last  few  months.  I  have 
been  just  a  little  worker  in  His  vineyard  for  a  number  of 
years.  I  love  the  holiness  movement,  and  holiness  people. 
I  want  to  live  and  die  with  them,  but  while  I  am  praying 
for  the  holiness  work  and  the  holiness  people  I  am  praying 
for  more  than  that.  For  months  an  agony  of  prayer  has 
taken  possession  of  my  inmosit  being.  I  have  been  pray- 
ing for  this  Assembly  but  not  for  this  alone.  I  have  been 
praying  for  the  denomination  of  which  I  am  a  member 
but  not  for  that  alone.  I  am  praying  for  a  revival  in  Israel 
a  revival  like  that  described  in  our  lesson  that  shall  be- 
gin in  the  church  and  sweep  through  the  church  and 
reach  ouit  to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth. 

God  has  brought  us  together  for  a  purpose.  We  are 
here  in  obedience  to  the  calling  of  God  and  the  leading 
of  His  Spirit.   We  are  here,  many  of  us  at  least,  because 


PREPARATION  FOR  A  REVIVAL. 


83 


our  hearts  have  been  led  out.  in  prayer  for  a  mighty  out- 
pouring of  the  Holy  Spirit, — not  for  our  own  sakes  but 
that  we  might  be  better  fitted  to  be  used  of  God  in  bring- 
ing about  such  a  revival  as  we  have  been  talking  about 
and  prayer  is  the  condition  God  has  given.  If  God  has 
sanctified  our  hearts,  it  is  not  because  He  wanted  to  do 
us  some  special  favor.  Jesus  said  that  it  was  written  that 
His  Father's  house  should  be  called  a  house  of  prayer. 
If  our  hearts  have  been  made  temples  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
iit  is  that  the  Holy  Ghost  might  find  in  us  a  place  to  pray, 
— might  find  in  us  instruments  that  He  might  use  in  inter- 
ceding with  groanings  that  cannot  be  uttered  for  <the  ac- 
complishment of  God's  will  and  purpose  in  the  salvation 
of  others. 

God  will  hold  us  responsible  for  this  opportunity  !  The 
very  heart  of  our  God  is  going  to  be  grieved  if  we  do  not 
get  down  lower  before  Him  than  we  have  ever  been  in 
the  past!  Great  responsibility  rests  upon  us  as  holiness 
workers — as  those  that  know  the  power  of  the  blood  of 
Jesus  and  the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  God  will 
require  much  at  our  hands !  God  wants  to  use  the  holi- 
ness movement  and  to  use  it  gloriously  in  bringing  about 
a  revival  that  shall  take  away  the  reproach  that  is  upon 
the  church  and  bring  eternal  glory  ito  our  Redeemer.  O 
beloved !  God  commands  us  to  go  down !  down ! !  down ! ! ! 
in  the  unsearchable  love  of  God,  until  God  shall  lift  us 
up  and  move  us  out  and  carry  a  deep  and  glorious  re- 
vival of  pure  and  undefiled  religion  all  over  this  land. — 
From  Echoes  of  General  Holiness  Assembly. 

Where  are  the  conditions  so  forbidding  as  to  limit 
the  power  of  God  ?  Would  he  not  have  saved  even  Sodom 
and  Gomorrah  for  ten  righteous  ?  Were  not  the  four  hun- 


84 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


dred  and  fifty  prophets  of  Baal  slain  in  answer  to  the 
prayer  and  faithfulness  of  Elijah?  Surely  God  is  the  same 
yesterday,  today  and  forever  and  in  spite  of  obstagles,  in 
spite  of  coldness  and  formality,  in  spite  of  hindrances,  God 
is  able  to  break  up  the  fallow  ground  and  rain  righteous- 
ness if  there  be  those  who  will  continue  to  plead  with  God 
until  they  prevail.  Many  times  it  can  be  done  speedily. 
Who  has  not  read  how  Mrs.  VanCott,  when  engaged  in 
evangelistic  work  at  Stone  Ridge,  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y.,  shut- 
ting herself  alone  with  God  in  an  agony  of  prayer  was 
enabled  the  same  day  to  prevail  for  the  salvation  of  two 
hundred  souls?- 

Bishop  Fowler  of  the  M.  E.  church  once  wrote: 
"We  know,  a  preacher,  still  living,  who  was  appointed 
to  the  charge  of  a  church  in  Springfield,  111.  The  church 
seemed  very  much  depressed.  Its  life  was  at  a  low  ebb. 
It  was  in  the  midst  of  the  harvest,  in  the  hot  weather,  when 
things  seemed  most  depressed.  The  pastor,  a  holy  man 
of  God,  announced  on  Sabbath  evening  to  a  small  con- 
gregation of  a  score  or  two  of  persons,  "There  will  be  a 
prayer-meeting  in  this  church  to-morrow  morning  at  sun- 
rise for  the  revival  of  the  work  of  God  and  for  the  con- 
version of  sinners."  The  people  wondered  at  the  notice, 
and  went  home.  The  pastor  went  up  into  his  study,  which 
was  in  the  parsonage  by  the  side  of  the  church,  and  gave 
that  night  to  prayer.  Just  as  the  east  began  to  lighten 
up  a  little  with  the  coming  day  he  had  the  assurance  that 
his  prayer  was  answered,  and  cast  himself  down  on  a  sofa 
for  a  little  rest.  Presently  he  awoke  suddenly  to  see  the 
sun  shining  on  the  wall  over  his  head.  He  sprang  up  and 
looked  out  of  the  window  to  see  how  late  it  was,  when 
he  saw  the  sun  just  rising  above  the  horizon.  Looking 


PREPARATION  FOR  A  REVIVAL. 


85 


dov/n  into  the  yard  by  the  church,  he  was  overjoyed  to  see 
the  church  crowded  with  people,  and  the  yard  full,  and 
teams  crowding  into  the  street  for  a  long  distance.  God 
had  heard  his  prayer,  and  had  sent  out  his  Spirit  into  the 
community,  and  there  had  been  no  sleeping  in  Springfield 
that  night.  People  in  the  country  who  knew  nothing  of 
the  appointment  got  up  in  the  night,  hitched  up  their 
teams,  and  drove  into  town  and  to  the  church  to  find  out 
what  the  matter  was.  A  good  man  had  taken  hold  ofT^od. 
The  prayer-meeting  began,  and  was  closed  that  niglit  at 
eleven  o'clock.  Several  souls  were  converted.  A  gracious 
work  broke  out,  and  the  community  was  greatly  blessed. 
The  foregoing  we  certify  to  on  the  highest  authority,  hav- 
ing it  from  the  lips  of  the  man  himself,  whom  every  body 
knowing  him  believes  as  soon  as  anything  outside  of  the 
Bible.  We  greatly  need  earnest,  persevering,  believing 
«  prayer.  One  night  of  such  prayer  kept  by  all  the  Church 
would  startle  the  nation.  We  sorely  need  a  mighty  bap- 
tism of  power.  We  have  all  the  other  elements  of  suc- 
cess. We  lack  no  machinery.  We  have  truth,  and  the  ex- 
perience of  its  saving  power  and  the  appliances.  What 
we  now  need  is  the  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  upon  us  as  a 
people.  We  must  rekindle  our  fires.  We  must  make  our 
churches  centers  of  saving  power.  One  hour  a  day  spent 
by  the  church  in  earnest  prayer  for  the  revival  o!  God's 
work  would  make  the  coming  year  the  most  memorable 
in  the  history  of  the  church.  If  you  do  not  feel  burdened, 
ask  for  the  spirit  of  prayer,  and  that  shall  be  given  you. 
'Forsake  your  sins  and  leave  yourself  with  God,  and  give 
yourself  to  prayer,  and  all  over  the  land  God  will  hear 
and  answer,  and  pour  out  his  Spirit,  and  bestow  his  pow- 
er, and  make  this  year  a  revival  year," 


86 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


One  of  the  most  remarkable  experiences  we  have  had 
in  seventeen  years  of  evangeHstic  work,  occurred  in  the 
spring  of  1890.  It  will  be  remembered  that  at  this  time 
the  United  Brethren  Church  was  sadly  divided  on  the  se- 
crecy question,  and  in  many  places  two  pastors  were  em- 
ployed-— one  by  the  "Liberals''  and  another  by  the  "Rad- 
icals" of  the  same  congregation.  In  our  travels  we  stopped 
to  visit  an  old  friend,  who  was  the  "Radical"  pastor  in 
such  a  place  as  these  to  whom  we  have  referred.  We  had 
no  thought  of  stopping  only  over  the  Sabbath,  and  never 
did  we  get  into  a  place  where  the  people  had  less  antici- 
pations of  a  revival.  Much  hard  feeling  had  existed,  an^d 
many  unkind,  unchristian  things  had  been  said  and  done. 

Sunday  evening  our  friend  invited  us  to  preach  for  him. 
God  gave  us  unusual  liberty  in  prayer  and  in  preaching  His 
Word,  and  opened  the  very  windows  of  heaven,  and  show- 
ers of  blessing  fell  upon  that  dry  and  barren  land.  In  spite  , 
of  circumstances  so  utterly  forbidding,  in  one  short  hour, 
the  people  found  themselves  in  the  midst  of  a  powerful  re- 
vival. We  never  witnessed  so  much  confession  in  so  short 
a  time.  Many  in  tears  asked  each  other's  forgiveness,  and 
then  came  to  the  altar  together,  and  prayed  that  they  might 
regain  their  first  love ;  and  God  heard  and  answered  their 
prayers.  The  "Liberal"  pastor  was  not  present,  but  the 
"Liberal"  presiding-elder  was;  and  he  and  the  "Radical" 
pastor  had  had  little  confidence  in  each  other;  but  under 
the  mighty  power  of  the  Spirit,  their  hearts  were  united, 
and  they  embraced  each  other  in  tears. 

Thus  did  God  manifest  His  power,  and  get  to  His  own 
name  glory;  and  to  Him  alone  be  praise,  both  now  and 
forever,  for  in  His  hands  are  the  hearts  of  the  children  of 
men. 


PREPARATION  FOR  A  REVIVAL. 


87 


At  a  convention  of  Christian  workers,  held  in  April, 
1882,  we  witnessed  a  spiritual  cyclone.  Forty  or  fifty  min- 
isters and  laymen  of  different  denominations  had  come 
together,  for  prayer  and  counsel,  concerning  the  most 
important  doctrines  of  the  Christian  church.  Great  dif- 
ferences of  opinion  were  expressed,  and  the  controversy 
became  so  sharp  that  some  seemed  offended,  and  the 
spiritual  influence  of  the  meeting  sadly  hindered.  In  fact, 
the  powers  of  darkness  threatened  to  come  in  like  a  flood, 
and  overthrow  the  good  that  had  already  been  done. 

But  some  there  were  in  that  little  company  who  knew 
the  mighty  power  of  prayer,  and  in  that  hour  of  need  went 
on  their  faces  before  God  with  strong  crying  and  tears.  The 
Spirit  interceded  with  groanings  that  could  not  be  uttered, 
and  soon  an  indescribable  sacredness  came  over  the  meet- 
ing. A  sister,  who  is  in  general  opposed  to  what  are 
termed  outward  manifestations,  was  so  pressed  in  spirit 
that  she  began  to  groan  aloud,  and  then  to  exclaim: 
"The  Lord  shall  have  His  way!  the  Lord  shall  have  His 
way!  the  Lord  shall  have  His  way!"  Others  began  to 
weep.  Then  a  minister,  who  had  come  to  the  meeting 
strongly  opposed  to  the  views  set  forth  by  the  leading 
workers,  jumped  to  his  feet,  and  shouted  the  praise  of 
God,  and  began  to  tell  of  the  mighty  baptism  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  he  had  received.  And  sooner  than  we  can  write  it, 
a  veritable  cyclone  of  God's  power  and  glory  swept  over 
the  place,  carrying  everything  before  it.  Stubborn  hearts 
yielded,  and,  in  a  very  few  moments  6f  time,  many  were 
saved  and  filled  with  the  Spirit. 

Of  this  convention  and  closing  service,  a  minister  who 
(was  afterward  a  presiding  elder  in  the  United  Bet'hren 
Church,  wrote:  "The  interest  increased  steadily  from  first 


88 


OLD  i-IME  RELIGION, 


to  last,  closing  up  in  a  tornado  of  divine  power.  None 
who  were  present  the  last  evening  can  ever  forget  how,  at 
the  first  shout  of  victory,  nearly  all  of  the  congregation 
rushed  out  of  the  house,  only  to  return  and  gaze  in  speech- 
less wonder,  as  souls  being  brought  under  conviction  for 
sin,  cried  for  pardon,  or  shouted  their  praises  at  being 
brought  from  nature's  darkness  to  God's  marvelous  light. 
Others,  groaning  under  the  conviction  for  holiness,  wrest- 
led until  the  carnal  mind  was  cast  out;  when  some  leaped 
for  joy,  and  others  were  laid  prostrate  under  the  weight 
of  glory.  Eternity  alone  can  tell  the  blessed  results  of 
that  closing  service." 

God  does  not  thus  reveal  himself  to  the  children  of 
men  for  naught,  and  already  thousands  have  been  influ- 
enced for  good  as  a  result  of  that  Pentecostal  outpouring 
of  His  Spirit. 

As  an  illustration  of  prevailing  prayer,  'Bro.  H.  L. 
Hastings  in  his  work  Records  of  Prevailing  Prayer,  relates 
the  following: 

"In  a  certain  town  there  had  been  no  revival  for  many 
years ;  the  church  was  nearly  run  out,  the  youth  were  all 
unconverted,  and  desolation  reigned  unbroken.  There 
lived  in  a  retired  part  of  the  town,  an  aged  man,  a  black- 
smith by  trade,  and  of  so  stammering  a  tongue  that  it  was 
painful  to  hear  him  speak.  On  one  Friday,  as  he  was  at 
work  in  his  shop,  alone,  his  mind  became  greatly  exer- 
cised about  the  state  of  the  church,  and  of  the  impenitent. 
His  agony  became,  so  great,  that  he  was  induced  to  lay 
aside  his  work,  lock  the  shop  door,  and  spend  the  after- 
noon in  prayer. 

"He  prevailed,  and  on  the  Lord's  day,  called  on  the 
minister  and  desired  him  to  appoint  a  conference  meet- 


PREPARATIOM  FOR  A  REVIVAL. 


89 


ing.  After  some  hesitation  the  minister  consented,  ob- 
serving, however,  that  he  feared  but  few  would  attend. 
He  appointed  it  the  same  evening,  at  a  large,  private 
house. 

"The  people  gathered  from  far  and  near,  doubtless  to 
the  surprise  of  the  unbelieving  and  faint-hearted.  A  sol- 
emn sense  of  the  presence  of  God  seemed  to  oppress  the 
assembly,  and  feelings  too  deep  for  speech  were  welling 
up  in  many  hearts.  All  was  silent  for  a  t^me,  until  one 
sinner  broke  out  in  tears,  and  said,  if  any  one  could  pray, 
he  begged  him  to  pray  for  him.  Another  followed,  and 
still  another,  until  it  was  found  that  persons  from  every 
quarter  of  the  town  were  under  deep  conviction.  And 
what  was  remarkable,  was,  that  they  all  dated  their  con- 
viction at  the  hour  when  the  old  man  was  praying  in  his 
shop.  A  powerful  revival  followed.  Thus  this  old  stam- 
mering man  prevailed,  and  as  a  prince  had  power  with 
God." 

And  then  Brother  Hastings  adds,  by  way  of  com- 
ment: '^And  thus  may  we  prevail  if  we  will  tarry  by  the 
cross  and  gather  near  the  throne.  There  is  a  God;  and 
if  the  time  spent  in  pleasing,  and  amusing,  and  disputing 
with,  men,  was  spent  in  urgent,  fervent  supplication  be- 
fore the  Ivord,  we  should  see  such  a  wave  of  blessing  roll 
over  these  moral  wastes,  as  would  make  earth  smile,  and 
heaven  rejoice,  and  Satan  tremble  at  the  conquering  pow- 
er of  Jesus  Christ. 

"How  many  churches  are  to-day  arid  and  parched,  as 
was  th^  realm  of  Ahab,  when  ^it  rained  not  on  the  earth 
by  the  space  of  three  years  and  six  months;'  but  let  the 
lone  Elijahs  lift  to  God  the  effectual  fervent  prayer  of  th^ 


90 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


righteous  man,  which  availeth  much,  and  the  heavens 
shall  give  rain,  and  the  earth  bring  forth  its  fruTts  once 
more. 

"One  fact  is  worth  a  thousand  arguments ;  and  a  thou- 
sand facts,  certified  by  inspired  Scriptures  and  by  living 
witnesses,  testify  that  God  heareth  and  answereth  Reliev- 
ing prayer.  And  experience  and  observation  bear  con- 
stant witness  that  the  real  victories  and  triumphs  of  the 
church  of  God  are  born,  not  of  boast  and  shout,  of  tumult 
and  self-laudation,  but  of  self-abasement,  poverty  of  spirit, 
humble  faith,  lowliness  and  contrition  of  heart,  tears  of 
penitential  gratitude,  and  inarticulate  groanings  before  the 
Lord  Most  High,  whose  strength  is  made  perfect  in  our 
weakness,  when  that  weakness  is  known,  and  felt,  and 
confessed  before  the  throne  of  grace." 

In  illustration  of  the  means  used  by  God  to  bring  about 
a  revival,  Evangehst  A.  B.  Earle  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
says  in  his  noted  work  Bringing  in  Sheaves;  "A  revival 
of  religion,  like  a  fire,  must  begin  somewhere :  ^'Behold, 
how  great  a  matter  a  little  fire  kindleth!"  A  fire  often 
begins  with  a  little  match,  and  works  its  way  through  the 
combustible  material  about  it  until  it  has  swept  over  a 
wide  region.  The  great  fire  in  Portland  originated  with 
a  fire-cracker.  So  a  work  of  grace  commences  with  a  sin- 
gle Christian — never  with  the  whole  church.  As  soon  as 
that  one  Christian  is  filled  with  the  Holy  Spirit,  he  goes  af- 
ter others,  to  lead  them  to  the  Savior,  or  to  induce  believers 
to  join  him  in  efforts  for  a  revival.  Jesus  fulfills  his  prom- 
ise, "Lo,  I  am  with  you  ;"  and  others  are  soon  moved  and 
melted,  and  the  work  begins  to  widen. 

'*So  that  whoever  would  promote  a  revival  of  religion 
should  begin  with  his  own  heart,  and  pray,  and  confess, 


PREPARATION  FOR  A  REVIVAL. 


91 


and  believe,  until  he  feels  his  heart  all  subdued  and  melt- 
ed by  the  Holy  Spirit, — until  his  love  to  Christ  is  glowing, 
fervid,  burning, — and  until  he  finds  himself  groaning  over 
the  lost  condition  of  men,  and^  like  Jesus,  being  in  an 
agony,  prays  more  earnestly. 

"Then,  when  his  heart  is  in  this  state,  let  him  get  a 
few,  if  he  cannot  many,  to  join  him  in  special  prayer  for 
the  outpouring  of  the  Spirit.  Let  that  little  company 
hold  on  in  united,  persistent  prayer,  ^nothing  wavering,' 
until  the  windows  of  heaven  are  opened." 

God  is  never  at  a  loss  for  a  way  to  answer  prayer.  A 
peculiar  illustration  of  this  fact  Is  related  by  Rev.  George 
E.  M.  Maniman: 

Early  in  the  present  century  there  traveled  over  the 
hills  of  eastern  Ohio,  a  Methodist  minister  by  the  name 
of  Rogers.  He  was  a  man  who  had  remarkable  power 
in  prayer,  founded  upon  an  equally  remarkable  faith  in 
God.  He  had  likewise  a  number  of  wonderful  experiences 
in  answer  to  his  prayers. 

On  one  occasion  he  gave  out  an  appointment  to  preach 
in  a  community  nestling  back  in  the  hills  of  Belmont 
County.  It  was  a  very  rough  and  godless  neighborhood. 
A  distillery  erected  beside  a  large,  never  failing  spring  of 
water,  the  only  one  in  the  vicinity,  was  the  source  of  the 
sin  and  debauchery  which  cursed  the  community,  and  had 
driven  all  religious  life  into  hiding.  In  spite  of  all  this 
Brother  Rogers  made  an  appointment  to  preach. 

Some  friends  came  to  him  on  hearing  of  it  and  said: 
"Bro.  Rogers,  it  is  of  no  use  to  appoint  preaching  in  that 
community.  They  will  not  listen  to  you,  and,  if  you  per- 
sist, they  will  do  you  injury." 


9^ 


Old  time  religion. 


"Why,"  asked  the  preacher,  ''are  they  any  worse  than 
others  ?" 

"Much  worse,"  was  the  answer;  "that  distillery  makes 
them  worse.  It  was  built  by  that  great  spiing  without 
which  it  could  not  run,  and  it  is  cursing  that  neighbor- 
hood." 

"Well  then,"  said  the  minister,  "I  shall  ask  God  to 
dry  up  that  spring  and  stop  that  distillery." 

The  time  set  for  the  preaching  service  arrived.  A 
goodly  number  of  people,  mostly  from  a  distance,  gath- 
ered at  the  appointed  spot.  After  the  services  were  opened 
by  singing  two  or  three  hymns,  the  preacher  fell  on  his 
knees  and  began  talking  with  God.  As  he  prayed,  a  mighty 
pleading  pathos  crept  into  his  voice,  an  aspect  of  holy 
unction  grew  upon  his  face.  He  seemed  to  enter  into  the 
very  Holy  of  Holies.  Finally  he  sprang  to  his  feet  cry- 
ing: "Glory  to  God!  I  have  the  answer.  Within  three 
days  that  spring  will  dry  up." 

Some  of  the  people  shouted  with  him.  But  the  cau- 
tious souls  were  there  also,  and  at  the  close  of  the  services 
they  cautioned  the  preacher  not  to  talk  that  way;  "for," 
said  they,  "if  it  does  not  happen  they  will  make  fun  of 
you." 

'^ut  it  will  happen,"  insisted  Bro.  Rogers. 

And  "happen"  it  did.  In  less  than  three  days  not  a 
drop  of  water  was  coming  from  that  spring. 

The  distillery  was  stopped.  In  a  mighty  rage  the  own- 
er swore  to  have  revenge  on  that  meddling  Methodist 
preacher.  Learning  appointment  had  been  made,  he  way- 
laid the  minister  and  ordered  him  to  dismount,  that  he 
might  give  him  a  thrashing, 

"What  for?"    asked  Rogers. 


PREPARATION  FOR  A  REVIVAL. 


9S 


"For  drying  up  my  spring,"  said  the  distiller. 

"I  did  not  dry  up  your  spring,"  said  the  .minister. 
"God  did  that." 

"You  asked  him  to  do  it,"  said  the  angry  whisky  deal- 
er, "and  you  must  take  the  pounding." 

"Do  you  believe,"  asked  the  preacher,  "that  God  would 
dry  up  your  spring  because  I  asked  him  to  do  it?" 

"He  did  it  anyhow !"  was  the  reply. 

"Well  then,"  said  the  man  of  God,  throwing  himself 
on  his  knees,  "I  shall  ask  God  to  strike  you  dead  right 
now  if  you  don't  quit  your  wickedness  and  stop  fighting 
his  cause," 

"Don't  do  that,"  cried  the  affrighted  distiller,  "don't 
do  that,  and  I  will  let  you  alone." 

This  distiller  was  afterwards  converted  and  became  an 
elder  in  a  Presbyterian  church. 

Under  the  influence  of  this  godly  minister,  that  place 
was  redeemed  and  noted  for  its  religion.  Brother  Rogers 
lived  until  about  two  years  ago,  when  he  died  in  the  tri- 
umph of  faith. 

All  the  leading  facts  in  this  narrative  are  true,  being 
vouched  for  by  numbers  of  citizens  in  the  immediate  vic- 
inity of  the  spot  where  they  happened. — Union  Signal. 

During  the  winter  of  1885-86  we  were  called  to  hold  a 
revival  meeting  in  New  Haven,  Shiawassee  county,  Michi- 
gan. During  the  first  few  days  of  the  meeting  we  found 
many  difficulties,  and  the  powers  of  darkness  arrayed 
against  the  work.  Keenly  realizing  our  need,  we  went  to 
God  in  earnest  prayer,  and  soon  experienced  a  wonderful 
travail  of  soul  for  the  desolation  of  Zion.  In  less  than 
twenty-four  hours  from  the  time  this  wonderful  spirit  of 
wrestling  prayer  was  given  us,  the  work  commenced  to 


94 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


move  in  earnest.  The  pastor,  in  sobs  and  tears,  confessed 
that  he  was  backsHdden,  asked  pardon  of  some  of  his  mem- 
bers, and  came  to  the  altar  seeking  forgiveness  of  God. 
Many  professed  Christians  followed  his  example,  and  in 
a  few  days  the  whole  country  was  in  a  flame  of  revival, 
such  as  had  never  been  known  in  that  section  of  the  coun- 
try. The  spiritual  condition  of  the  community  was  so 
changed  that  for  years  sinners  were  converted  at  almost 
every  pubHc  gathering  of  God's  people.  Never  elsewhere 
have  we  witnessed  so  sweeping  and  thorough  a  work  oi 
grace,  and  such  wonderful  manifestations  of  God's  pres- 
ence and  glory.  Over  two  years  after  the  commencement 
of  that  wonderful  awakening,  at  a  camp-meeting  held  in 
the  same  community,  a  paper  was  drawn  up  endorsing 
the  work,  and  signed  by  several  ministers  of  the  gospel 
and  forty  or  fifty  others ;  and  from  that  paper  we  clip  the 
following  statement  in  reference  to  this  glorious  revival, 
known  in  all  that  sections  as  *'the  big  revival:" 

"When  Brother  Shaw  came,  great  division  and  lack  of 
harmony  existed  among  the  members  of  the  different 
churches  in  the  neighborhood — Methodist  Episcopal,  Free 
Methodist,  Wesleyan  Methodist,  and  German  Evangelical. 
Bible  Christianity  was  at  a  low  ebb,  but  he  preached  the 
truth  of  God  faithfully.  He  condemned  sin  of  every  kind. 
God  honored  the  message  by  a  mighty  outpouring  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.  The  truth  went  home  to  hearts.  The  whole 
country  was  stirred.  Scores  who  opposed  the  work  bitterly 
for  a  time,  were  brought  under  conviction,  saved,  and  be- 
came its  warmest  friends.  Under  the  mighty  power  of  God 
souls  were  humbled,  confessions  were  made,  wrongs  were 
made  right,  and  sectarian  bigotry  melted  away.  Hearts 
were  united.  Several  ministers  of  the  gospel  knelt  at  the 


PREPARATION  FOR  A  REVIVAL. 


95 


altar  as  seekers.  The  work  was  so  thorough  that  no 
dif¥erence  could  be  discovered  among  the  members  of  the 
different  churches.  All  were  equally  separated  from  the 
world,  and  equally  baptized  with  the  Holy  Ghost  and  fire. 
During  the  meeting,  lasting  in  all  about  seven  weeks, 
between  two  and  three  hundred  souls  were  gloriously  con- 
verted, reclaimed  or  sanctified.  Never  has  there  been 
known  in  all  this  community  such  a  revival." 

During  the  spring  of  1892,  we  held  a  five-weeks  re- 
vival meeting  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  Har- 
vey, Illinois.  A  series  of  meetings  had  closed  but  a  few 
weeks  before,  and  the  church  was  divided,  and  some  were 
doing  all  in  their  power  to  undermine  and  destroy  the  in- 
fluence of  the  godly  pastor.  From  a  human  standpoint, 
it  looked  almost  like  presumption  to  commence  a  pro- 
tracted effort  under  such  unfavorable  circumstances.  Yet 
in  spite  of  the  discouragements,  we  felt  the  call  was  from 
God,  and  were  given  an  inspiration  of  prayer  for  the  town. 
We  prayed  especially  for  help,  and  God  sent  two  devoted 
sisters  from  Chicago,  and  one  from  Rockford,  to  our  aid 

After  a  few  days  of  great  burden  of  soul  for  the  work, 
the  Lord  moved  in  power  among  the  people,  and  from  that 
time  they  came  in  great  crowds.  The  work  done  was  thus 
reported  by  Evangelist  Sarah  A.  Cooke  (one  of  the  work- 
ers mentioned  above),  in  the  Highway  and  Banner  of  Holi- 
ness : 

"  'Harvey  has  never  had  such  a  shaking  up  as  this  be- 
fore,' said  the  janitor  of  the  Methodist  church,  as  we 
looked  on  the  display  of  the  Lord's  power  moving  on  the 
people.  Night  after  night  the  altar  has  been  filled  with 
seekers,  and  deep  conviction  has  taken  hold  of  many,  long 
hardened  by  the  deceitfulness  of  sin.    In  one  of  the  fac- 


96 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


tories  they  have  commenced  a  noonday  prayer-meeting, 
and  another  in  the  Academy;  the  Principal  of  which  has 
been  gloriously  sanctified  during  the  revival,  and,  like  a 
fire  in  his  bones,  the  love  of  God  has  burned.  *I  belifeve/ 
he  said  in  a  testimony,  a  few  nights  ago,  *I  can  claim  the 
whole  Academy  for  Christ.'  Twenty-three  the  other  after- 
noon professed  they  had  found  the  Lord. 

"No  church  is  preached,  no  creed  (save  the  apostYes'), 
no  dogma,  just,  'All  have  sinned  and  come  short  of  the 
glory  of  God;'  'Except  ye  repent  ye  shall  all  likewise  per- 
ish; and  the  faithful  saying:  'J^sus  Christ  came  into  the 
world  to  save  sinners,  even  the  chief ;  and  God,  as  ever, 
honors  His  own  word.  Brother  S.  B.  Shaw,  of  Michigan, 
is  in  charge.  Weeping  between  the  porch  and  the  altar, 
^  realizing  the  awful  responsibility  of  standing  between  the 
living  and  the  dead,  and  by  faith  taking  hold  of  God 
by  the  mighty  arms  of  faith  and  prayer,  he  leads  the  work 
on  gloriously." 

Of  the  same  meeting.  Sister  Abbie  Mills,  author  of 
"Quiet  Hallelujahs"  and  "Whispers  of  the  Comforter," 
wrote  to  the  Christian  Witness : 

"I  am  here  beholding  the  works  of  the  Lord.  In  this 
place,  known  to  all  that  are  afar  off,  as  well  as  to  them  that 
are  nigh,  the  people  of  God  are  getting  clear  titles  to  the 
reserved  inheritance,  incorruptible,  undefiled,  and  that  will 
endure  when  Harvey  is  no  more.  I  came  here  on  Thurs- 
day, thinking  to  make  a  very  short  stay,  but  found  the 
people  engaged  in  a  holiness  meetmg,  under  the  leader- 
ship of  Brother  Shaw,-  of  Michigan.  The  interest  is  grow- 
ing, and  some  are  getting  clean  hearts,  and  being  filled 
with  the  Holy  Ghost  daily.  Yesterday  (Sabbath)  was  a 
day  of  much  blessing.    The  class-meeting  at  the  noon- 


PREPARATION  FOR  A  REVIVAL. 


97 


hour  was  glorious.  Several  crossed  over  into  Beulah- 
land,  one  aged  brother  leaving  his  tobacco  behind.  At 
3  P.  M.,  Sister  Cooke,  of  Chicago,  held  a  children's  meet- 
ing. In  the  evening  the  church  was  very  full.  After  the 
sermon  by  Brother  Shaw,  the  altar  filled  twice,  while  first 
on  one  side,  then  on  the  other,  the  cleansed  would  arise 
to  testify  and  give  their  place  to  others.  Far  out  in  the 
congregation  also,  there  were  some  on  their  knees,  seek- 
ing a  God  who  was  not  afar  off.  1  had  thought  my  work 
for  the  winter  about  over,  but  am  constrained  to  tarry  here 
this  week,  and  hope  to  see  an  increased  outpour  or  down- 
pour of  salvation." 

For  five  weeks  the  work  of  God  swept  on  gloriously. 
Hundreds  claimed-victory  and  much  of  the  work  has  stood 
the  test  of  time  and  promises  to  endure  the  test  of  the 
Judgment  morning.  The  same  God  that  held  back  the 
Philistines  in  answer  to  Samuel's  prayer  and  stopped  a 
distillery  by  drying  up  a  spring  can  remove  other  hinder- 
ing causes  that  are  in  the  way  of  a  revival.  The  church 
of  God  should  prepare  the  way  of  the  Lord  by  putting 
away  all  things  that  are  not  for  his  glory  but  when  they 
fail  to  do  this,  God  can  get  such  hindrances  out  of  the 
way  in  answer  to  prevailing  prayer.  This  is  well  illus- 
trated in  the  following  incident. 

Revivals  vs.  Fairs — Wonders  of  Prayer. 

The  Methodist  Preachers'  Meeting  of  Boston  was  well 
attended  last  Monday,  and  Rev.  W.  N.  Brodbeck,  D.  D., 
the  pastor  of  the  Tremont  street  Church  of  this  city,  thrilled 
the  brethren  with  an  address  on  "The  relation  of  the  min- 
isters to  revivals,"  during  which  he  pointedly  referred  to 
church  fairs  and  festivals  as  barriers  to  revivals. 

He  declared  that  some  ministers  and  churches  would 


98 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


never  have  a  revival,  because  they  would  not  do  the  hard 
work,  and  make  the  sacrifice  essential  to  secure  said  re- 
sults. At  Urbana,  Ohio,  he  began  revival  services,  but  at 
first  only  doubtful  characters  came  to  the  altar,  in  whom 
the  public  had  no  confidence.  Many  were  offended,  and 
some  said:  ''Do  you  know  those  people  that  are  coming 
to  the  altar?" 

He  replied:  ''Yes,  I  know  them;  they  are  immortal 
souls  for  whom  Christ  died."  When  the  meetings  had 
run  three  weeks,  one  of  his  leading  members  came  to  him 
and  said :  "I  think  it  is  time  these  meetings  were  stopped ; 
we  have  held  them  three  weeks,  and  we  want  to  hold  a 
fair,  and  have  some  entertainments." 

The-  pastor  firmly  and  promptly  replied :  "You  may 
do  as  you  please,  but  these  meetings  will  not  stop." 

His  heart  was  broken,  and  so  was  the  heart  of  one  of 
the  devout  women  members.  They  expressed  their  feelings 
to  each  other  and  parted.  They  both  spent  the  night  in 
prayer,  and  at  ten  o'clock  the  next  morning,  the  pastor 
gained  the  evidence  that  his  prayers  were  answered.  After 
dinner  he  went  out,  and  met  the  devout  lady  on  the  street, 
her  face  shining  with  the  glory  of  God.  She  said:  ''The' 
victory  is  coming." 

"How  do  you  know?" 

"I  got  the  evidence  at  ten  o'clock  this  morning,  after 
spending  a  whole  night  in  prayer." 

This  was  the  very  time  that  the  pastor  gained  the  evi- 
dence. That  very  night,  while  the  pastor  was  preaching, 
a  young  man  arose  and  came  to  the  altar ;  others  followed, 
so  that  the  pastor  had  to  stop  preaching.  God  was  among 
the  people  in  power ;  the  church  was  quickened,  backsliders 
were  reclaimed,  hundreds  of  sinners  were  converted,  Places 


PREPARATION  FOR  A  REVIVAL. 


99 


'of  amusement  and  saloon  were  closed.  The  face  of  the 
community  was  changed,  and  275  converts  joined  that  one 
church,  and  the  fair  was  not  held.  All  because  they  refused 
to  have  the  fair.  Oh,  for  more  nights  of  prayer !  Oh,  for 
more  agony  of  soul  for  perishing  sinners  !  Oh]  for  more  of 
the  mind  of  Christ !  Then  would  revivals  prevail  and  thou- 
sands would  be  converted  to  God. — Christian  Witness. 

Great  are  the  promises !  Great  are  the  possibilities  of 
prayer!  Who  has  measured  their  heights  or  sounded 
their  depths?  Has  any  soul  wrestling  with  God  in  the 
Holy  Ghost,  for  the  salvation  of  others  come  to  the  point 
where  God  said :  Thus  far  shalt  thou  go  and  no  farther  ? 

True,  for  some  individual  souls,  the  Holy  Spirit  may, 
refuse  longer  to  intercede;  but  were  there  not  other  souls 
that  that  very  hour  might  have  been  won  in  answer  to 
prayer  ? 

Prevailing  prayer  will  bring  a  revival  in  any  community. 
It  cannot  always  be  done  in  a  day  or  a  week  or  perhaps 
not  in  a  month  or  a  year,  but  it  can  be  done.  The  battle 
with  the  powers  of  darkness  may  be  long  and  hard  but  the 
victory  is  possible.  In  order  to  bring  about  a  revival  in 
Elijah's  time  it  was  necessary  that  God  should  humble  the 
people  by  three  years  of  drought  and  so  for  three  years 
Elijah  prayed  and  for  three  y^ars  it  rained  not.  So  to-day 
at  some  times  and  in  some  places  the  hindrances  may  be 
great  and  the  struggle  severe  but  if  courage  and  faith 
fail  not,  God  will  find  a  way  to  answer  prayer. 

FASTING  HELPFUL, 

Many  times  the  burden  of  soul  will  be  so  great  that  all 
desire  for  food  is  taken  away.    Fasting  and  prayer  have 


100 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


brought  deliverance  to  God's  people  in  times  of  great  ca- 
lamity when  all  other  resources  have  failed.  This  world 
is  a  fierce  battlefield  between  the  powers  of  good  and  evil, 
between  light  and  darkness ,  ''for  we  wrestle  not  against 
flesh  and  blood,  but  against  principalities,  against  powers, 
against  the  rulers  of  the  darkness  of  this  world,  against 
spiritual  wickedness  in  high  places,"  and  because  of  this 
conflict,  we  are  exhorted  not  only  to  put  on  the  whole 
armor  of  God  but  to  ''pray  always  with  all  prayer  and  sup- 
plication in  the  Spirit."  And  in  all  ages  fasting  has  been 
recognized  as  a  means  of  grace  when  rightly  joined  with 
a  spirit  of  supplication. 

Commentators  are  agreed  that  the  affliction  of  soul  so 
positively  commanded  in  Leviticus  23 :  27  in  observance 
of  the  day  of  atonement,  included  fasting  and  so  essential 
was  this  that  the  soul  that  should  not  be  afflicted  on  that 
day  was  to  be  cut  off  from  among  the  people.  Thus  fast- 
ing was  made,  under  the  law,  one  of  the  conditions  of  re- 
ceiving the  benefits  of  the  atonement. 

Surely  the  greatest  victories  ever  witnessed  by  the 
people  of  God  have  been  the  results  of  fasting  and  prayer. 
Moses  fasted  forty  days  before  receiving  the  law  from  the 
hand  of'  God  and  .  after  the  first  tables  were  broken  he 
again  fasted  forty  days  before  receiving  the  second.  Je- 
hoshaphat's  great  victory  over  the  Moabites  and  the  Am- 
orites  was  the  result  of  fasting  and  prayer.  (Read  2 
Chron.  20:  1-28.) 

In  answer  to  the  preaching  of  Jonah  who  cried :  "Yet 
forty  days  and  Nineveh  shall  be  overthrown,"  "the  people 
of  Nineveh  believed  God,  and  proclaimed  a  fast,  and  put 
on  sackcloth,  from  the  greatest  of  them  even  to  the  least 
of  them.    For  word  came  unto  the  king  of  Nineveh,  and 


PREPARATION  FOR  A  REVIVAL.  101 


he  arose  from  his  throne,  and  he  laid  his  robe  from  him, 
and  covered  him  with  sackcloth,  and  sat  in  ashes.  And  he 
caused  it  to  be  proclaimxcd  and  published  through  Nineveh 
by  the  decree  of  the  king  and  his  nobles,  saying,  Let  neith- 
er man  nor  beast,  herd  nor  flock,  taste  any  thing :  let  them 
not  ^eed,  nor  drink  water :  but  let  man  and  beast  be  cov- 
ered with  sackcloth,  and  cry  mightily  unto  God;  yea,  let 
them  turn  every  one  from  his  evil  way,  and  from  the  vio- 
lence that  is  in  their  hands.  Who  can  tell  if  God  will  turn 
and  repent,  and  turn  away  from  his  fierce  anger,  that  we 
perish  not?  And  God  saw  their  works,  that  they  turned 
from  their  evil  way ;  and  God  repented  of  the  evil,  that  he 
had  said  that  he  would  do  unto  them;  and  he  did  it  not." 
Jonah  3 :  5-10.) 

Ezra  in  a  time  of  great  extremity  proclaimed  a  fast 
(See  Ezra  8:  21-24)  and  the  great  reformation  under  Ezra 
and  Nehemiah  was  the  result  of  fasting  and  prayer.  A 
little  later  when  the  Jews  who  remained  in  the  land  of 
captivity  were  about  to  be  utterly  destroyed,  they  were 
delivered  in  answer  to  prayer  and  fasting.  (See  Esther 
4:16.) 

Our  Savior  fasted  forty  days  and  nights  before  enter- 
ing upon  his  ministry  and  to  the  disciples  who  were  un- 
able to  cast  out  the  devil  from  the  child  that  was  a  lunatic 
the  Savior,  after  rebuking  them  for  their  unbelief,  de- 
clared*: ''Howbeit  this  kind  goeth  not  out  but  by  prayer 
and  fasting." 

PREACHING  OF  THE  WORD. 

We  have  already  said  that  one  of  the  more  direct  means 
used  of  God  for  bringing  about  a  revival  is  the  strong 


102 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


faithful  preaching  of  his  Word.  God  declares  his  Word  to 
be  the  sword  of  the  Spirit  and  that  it  is  "quick  and  power- 
ful, and  sharper  than  any  two-edged  sword,  piercing  even  to 
the  dividing  asunder  of  soul  and  spirit,  and  of  the  joints 
and  marrow,  and  is  a  discerner  of  the  thoughts  and  in- 
tents of  the  heart."  Great  responsibility  rests  upon 
those  who  claim  to  have  been  called  of  God  to  pro- 
claim his  truth  to  the  people.  For  after  that  in  the  wis- 
dom of  God  the  world  by  wisdom  knew  not  God,  it  pleased 
God  by  the  foolishness  of  preaching  to  save  them  that 
beheve." 

Only  failure  and  confusion  can  come  to  that  rmn  who 
hopes  to  win  souls  by  substituting  for  the  sword  that  God 
has  provided,  an  instrument  of  his  own  choosing,  when 
the  plain  commission  given  him  from  above  is :  "Preach 
the  word;  be  instant  in  season,  out  of  season;  reprove, 
rebuke,  exhort  with  all  long  suffering  and  doctrine."  He 
too,  will  fail  who  uses  the  weapon  God  provides  but  wields 
it  not  in  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  The  Word  is  the 
Spirit's  sword  and  can  only  accomplish  its  mission  when 
used  in  the  Spirit's  power.  Paul  could  truly  declare  as  a 
minister  of  Christ,  "For  our  gospel  came  not  unto  you 
in  word  only,  but  also  in  power,  and  in  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  in  much  assurance;  as  ye  know  v/hat  manner  of  men 
we  were  among  you  for  your  sake."   (i  Thess.  i :  5.) 

"To  whom  God  would  make  known  what  is  the  riches 
of  the  glory  of  his  mystery  among  the  Gentiles  which  is 
Christ  in  you,  the  hope  of  glory :  whom  we  preach,  warning 
every  man,  and  teaching  every  man  in  all  wisdom ;  that  we 
may  present  every  man  perfect  in  Christ  Jesus :  whereunto 
I  also  labor,  striving  according  to  his  working,  which 
worketh  in  me  mightily.  (Col.  i :  27-29.) 


PREPARATION  FOR  A  REVIVAL. 


103 


*^For  our  exhortation  was  not  of  deceit,  nor  of  un- 
cleanness,  nor  in  guile":  but  as  we  were  allowed  of  God  to 
be  put  in  trust  with  the  gospel,  even  so  we  speak;  not  as 
pleasing  men,  but  God,  which  trieth  our  hearts.  For  neith- 
.  er  at  any  time  used  we  flattering  Words,  as  ye  know,  nor  a 
cloak  of  coveteousness ;  God  is  witness  :  Nor  of  men  sought 
we  glory,  neither  of  you,  nor  yet  of  others,  when  we  might 
have  been  burdensome,  as  the  apostles  of  Christ.  But  we 
were  gentle  among  you,  even  as  a  nurse  cherisheth  her  chil- 
dren :  so  being  affectionately  desirous  of  you ;  we  were 
willing  to  have  imparted  unto  you  not  the  gosepel  of  God 
only,  but  also  our  own  souls,  because  ye  were  dear 
unto  us.  For  ye  remember,  brethren,  our  labor  and 
travail ;  for  laboring  night  and  day,  because  we  would  not 
be  chargeable  unto  any  of  you,  we  preached  unto  you  the 
gospel  of  God.  Ye  are  witnesses,  and  God  also,  how 
holily  and  justly  and  unblameably  we  behaved  ourselves 
among  you  that  believe :  as  ye  know  how  we  exhorted  and 
comforted  and  charged  every  one  of  you,  as  a  father  doth 
his  children,  that  ye  would  walk  worthy  of  God,  who  hath 
called  you  unto  his  kingdom  and  glory."  (i  Thess.  2 :  3-12.) 

If  all  ministers  were  as  faithful  there  would  be  no 
need  of  ^'preparation  for  a  revival"  for  the  church  of 
God  would  be  already  mighty  to  the  pulling  down  of  the 
strongholds  of  Satan. 

God  always  has  and  always  will  own  the  faithful  loving 
preaching  of  his  own  Word.  But  alas,  how  few  are  the 
ministers  Who,  like  Paul,  cease  not  to  ^Varn  everyone 
night  and  day  with  tears."  How  few  have  the  courage,  like 
Peter,  to  declare  to  men  that  they  have  denied  the  Holy 
one  and  the  Just,  and  have  with  wicked  hands  crucified  the 
Lord's  Christ.  -How  few  are  the  watchmen  that  hear  the 


104 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


word^at  the  mouth  of  God  and  warn  men  from  Him !  (See 
Ezek.  33 :  7.)  How  few  are  the  shepherds  that  take  heed 
to  themselves  and  to  all  the  flock  over  which  the  Holy 
Ghost  hath  made  them  oversure.   (Acts  2 :  28.) 

Many  times  a  faithful  preacher,  in  going  upon  a  new 
charge,  will  find  out  more  about  the  spiritual  condition  of 
the  people  on  his  new  circuit  or  station  in  a  few  weeks  than 
his  predecessor  had  been  able  to  realize  during  his  whole 
pastorate.  The  same  is  true  of  evangelistic  workers.  They 
go  into  a  town  and  after  a  few  plain  talks  to  the  people, 
realize  better  their  condition  and  have  a  better  understand- 
ing of  their  needs  than  pastors  who  have  lived  in  the  place 
for  years.  Should  not  God's  shepherds  be  quick  to  recog- 
nize the  disease  of  sin  and  all  of  its  complications?  Should 
he  not  know  how  to  apply  the  remedy  for  this  disease? 
Should  he  not  know  the  condition  of  his  flock  and  how  to 
help  them  out  of  their  difficulties?  Should  he  not  know 
how  to  warn  them  that  are  unruly,  how  to  comfort  the  fee- 
ble-minded, how  to  support  the  weak,  and  how  to  feed 
those  that  are  in  health  so  that  they  may  grow  in  grace 
and  in  the  knowledge  of  the  truth? 

And  what  shall  be  said  of  those  pastors  that  really  care 
not  for  the  flock — that  at  heart  seek  only  their  own  ease 
and  convenience  and  pleasure?  What  of  those  that  by 
their  harshness  drive  some  away  and  by  their  neglect  leave 
others  to  perish?  "Woe  be  unto  the  pastors  that  destroy 
and  scatter  the  sheep  of  my  pasture  !  saith  the  Lord.  There^ 
fore  saith  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  against  the  pastors  that 
feed  my  people.  Ye  have  scattered  my  flock  and  driven 
them  away,  and  have  not  visited  them.  Behold,  I  wilt 
visit  upon  you  the  evil  of  your  doings,  saith  the  Lord. 
And  I  will  gather  the  remnant  of  my  flock  out  of  all 


PREPARATION  FOR  A  REVIVAL. 


105 


countries  whither  I  have  driven  them,  and  will  bring 
them  again  to  their  folds ;  and  they  shall  be  fruitful  and 
increase.  And  I  will  set  up  shepherds  over  them  which 
shall  feed  them;  and  they  shall  fear  no  more,  nor  be  dis- 
mayed, neither  shall  they  be  lacking,  saith  the  Lord." 

Our  Savior  declared:  ''The  good  shepherd  giveth  his 
life  for  the  sheep."  To  enter  the  professed  church  of  God 
as  a  pastor  or  an  evangelist  with  a  worldly  motive  is  not 
only  displeasing  to  God  but  will  bring  an  awful  curse  upon 
the  one  who  thus  makes  merchandise  of  the  gospel.  All 
of  God's  shepherds  that  are  of  any  help  to  the  flock  hold 
their  position  by  divine  authority  and  have  entered  the 
fold  by  the  blood  of  Christ.  They  are  new  creatures  in 
Christ  and  have  no  selfish  or  worldly  motives.  Their  whole 
aim  and  ambition  is  the  glory  of  God  and  the  salvation  of 
souls.  But  how  few  are  they  who  knowing  the  terrors 
of  the  Lord  persuade  men,  and  being  constrained  by  the 
love  of  Christ  act  as  becomes  his  ambassadors  pleading 
with  men  to  be  reconciled  to  God!  (See  2  Cor.  5 :  11-21.) 
How  few  give  no  ofifence  in  anything  that  the  ministry 
be  not  blamed ;  in  all  things  approving  themselves  as  the 
ministers  of  God  "in  much  patience,  in  afflictions,  in  ne- 
cessities, in  distresses,  in  stripes,  in  imprisonments,  in  tu- 
mults, in  labors,  in  watchings,  in  fastings ;  by  pureness, 
by  knowledge,  by  longsuflfering,  by  kindness,  by  the  Holy 
Ghost,  by  love  unfeigned,  by  the  word  of  truth,  by  the 
power  of  God,  by  the  armor  of  righteousness  on  the  right 
hand  and  on  the  left,  by  honor  and  dishonor,  by  evil  report 
and  good  report :  as  deceivers,  and  yet  true ;  as  unknown, 
and  yet  well  known;  as  dying,  and,  behold,  they  live;  as 
chastened,  and  not  killed;  as  sorrowful,  yet  alway  rejoic- 
ing; as  poor,  yet  making  many  rich;  as  having  nothing, 


106 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


and  yet  possessing  all  things."   (2  Cor.  6 :  3-10.) 

The  sainted  John  Fletcher,  in  describing  lukewarm 
ministers  of  the  gospel  says :  "If  the  primitive  church  was 
disturbed  and  mislead  by  unfaithful  ministers,  it  may  be 
reasonably  presumed  that,  in  this  more  degenerate  period 
of  its  existence,  the  church  of  God  must  be  miserably  over 
run  with  teachers  of  the  same  character.  There  is,  how- 
ever, no  small  number  of  ministers  who  form  a  sort  of 
medium  between  zealous  pastors  and  false  apostles.  These 
irresolute  evangelists  are  sincere  to  a  certain  point.  They 
have  some  desire  after  the  things  of  God,  but  are  abun- 
dantly more  solicitous  for  the  things  of  the  world;  they 
form  good  resolutions  in  the  cause  of  their  acknowledged 
Master,  but  are  timid  and  unfaithful  when  called  upon  for 
actual  service.  They  are  sometimes  actuated  by  a  mo- 
mentary zeal,  but  generally  influenced  by  servile  fear.  They 
have  no  experience  of  that  ardent  affection,  and  that  in- 
vincible courage  with  which  St.  Paul  was  animated.  Their 
wisdom  is  still  carnal,  2  Cor.  i :  12,  they  still  confer  with 
flesh  and  blood,  Gal.  i :  16.  Such  was  Aaron,  who  yielded, 
through  an  unmanly  weakness,  to  the  impious  solicitations 
of  his  people.  Such  was*  Jonah,  when  he  refused  to  exer- 
cise his  ministry  at  Nineveh.  That  this  prophet  was  pos- 
sessed of  a  holy  confidence  in  God,  and  a  desire  for  the 
salvation  of  his  fellow  creatures,  we  have  every  reason  to 
believe;  but  we  find  that  neither  the  one  nor  the  other 
was  sufficiently  powerful  to  engage  him  in  a  service  which 
appeared  likely  to  endanger  his  reputation  among  men. 
Such  were  also  the  apostles  before  they  were  endued  with 
power  from  on  high.  To  every  pastor  of  this  character  that 
expression  of  Christ,  which  was  once  addresed  to  the  most 
courageous  man  among  His  disciples,  may  be  considered 


PREPARATION  FOR  A  REVIVAL.  107 

as  peculiarly  applicable :  'Thou  art  an  offence  unto  me,  for 
thou  savorest  not  the  things  that  be  of  God,  but  those 
that  be  of  men.'      Matt.  i6:  23. 

"Lukewarmness,  false  prudence,  and  timidity  are  the 
chief  characteristics  by  which  ministers  of  this  class  may 
be  distinguished.  Perceiving  the  excellence  of  the  gospel 
in  an  obscure  point  of  view,  and  having  little  experience 
of  its  astonishing  effects,  they  can  not  possibly  discover 
that  religious  zeal  which  is  indispensably  necessary  to  the 
character  they  affect  to  sustain. 

"The  pious  Bishop  Massillon  gives  the  following  rep- 
resentation of  these  unqualified  teachers  and  the  ill  effects 
of  their  unfaithfulness  :  'Manners  are  every  day  becoming 
more  corrupt  among  us,  because  the  zeal  of  ministers  is 
daily  becoming  colder;  and  because  there  are  found  among 
us  few  apostolical  men  who  oppose  themselves  as  a  brazen 
wall  to  the  torrent  of  vice.  For  the  most  part,  we  behold 
the  wicked  altogether  at  ease  in  their  sins,  for  the  want 
of  hearing  more  frequently  those  thundering  voices,  which, 
accompanied  with  the  Spirit  of  God,  would  effectually  rouse 
them  from  their  awful  slumber.  The  want  of  zeal,  so 
clearly  discernible  among  pastors,  is  chiefly  owing  to  that 
base  timidity  which  is  not  hardy  enough  to  make  a  reso- 
lute stand  against  common  prejudice,  and  which  regards 
the  worthless  approbation  of  men  beyond  their  eternal  in- 
terests. That  must  needs  be  a  worldly  and  criminal  con- 
sideration which  makes  us  more  anxious  for  our  own  glory 
than  for  the  glory  of  God.  That  must  truly  be  fleshly 
wisdom  which  can  represent  zeal  under  the  false  ideas  of 
excess,  indiscretion,  and  temerity;  a  pretext  this  which 
nearly  extinguishes  every  spark  of  zeal  in  the  generality 
of  ministers.    This  want  of  courage  they  honor  with  the 


108 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION, 


Specious  names  of  moderation  and  prudence.  Under  a 
pretence  of  not  carrying  their  zeal  to  an  excess,  they  arc 
content  to  be  entirely  destitute  of  it.  And  while  they  are 
solicitous  to  shun  the  rocks  of  imprudence  and  precipita- 
tion, they  run  without  fear,  upon  the  sands  of  indolence 
and  cowardice.  They  desire  to  become  useful  to  sinners, 
and,  at  the  same  time,  to  be  had  in  estimation  of  them. 
They  long  to  manifest  such  a  zeal  that  the  world  is  dis- 
posed to  applaud.  They  are  anxious  so  to  oppose  the  pas- 
sions of  men  that  they  may  yet  secure  their  praises ;  so  to 
condemn  the  vices  they  love  that  they  may  still  be  ap- 
proved by  those  they  condemn.  But  when  we  probe  a 
wound  to  the  bottom,  we  must  expect  to  awaken  a  de- 
gree of  peevishness  in  the  patient,  if  we  do  not  extort  from 
him  some  bitter  exclamation.' 

"  'Let  us  not  deceive  ourselves,'  continues  the  same 
author,  'if  this  apostolic  zeal,  which  once  converted  the 
world,  has  become  so  rare  among  us,  it  is  because,  in  the 
discharge  of  our  sacred  functions,  we  seek  ourselves  rather 
than  the  glory  of  Christ  and  the  salvation  of  souls.  Glory 
and  infamy  were  regarded  by  the  apostle  with  equal  in- 
difference, while  he  filled  up  the  duties  of  his  important 
ofifice.  He  knew  it  impossible  to,  please  men,  and  to  save 
them;  to  be  the  servant  of  the  world,  and  the  servant  of 
Christ.  Nevertheless,  there  are  many  among  us  who  are 
seeking  to  unite  these  different  services,  which  the  apos- 
tle believed  to  be  irreconcilable.' 

"Mons.  Rogues  agrees  with  the  pious  bishop  in  con- 
demning those  ministers  who  neglect  to  copy  the  example 
of  St.  Paul.  'The  little  piety  that  is  to  be  found  among 
ministers,'  says  this  excellent  writer,  'is  the  most  effectual 
pbstacle  to  the  progress  of  the  gospel.    By  piety  I  mean 


PREPARATIOX  FOR  A  REVIVAL. 


109 


that  sincere  and  ardent  love  for  religion  which  deeply  in- 
terests a  man  in  all  its  concerns,,  as  well  as  in  every  thing 
that  respects  the  glory  of  God,  and  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.'  If  this  divine  love  were  found  reigning  in  the 
Iicarts  of  those  who  proclaim  Christ  ;  if  every  preacher  of 
ihe  gospel  were  enabled  to  say,  with  the  sincerity  of  Peter, 
'Lord  I  thou  knowest  all  things ;  thou  knowest  that  I  love 
thee,'  (John  21  :  15)  thou  knowest  that  I  have  no  ambition 
but  for  Thy  glory,  and  that  my  highest  pleasure  consists 
in  beholding  the  increase  of  Thy  kingdom — w€  should  then 
perceive  the  word  of  God  in  their  hands  like  a  two-edged 
sword,  cutting  asunder  the  very  roots  of  sin.  But  as  the 
gospel  is  preached  more  through  contention,  through  vain 
glory,  and  through  the  desire  of  getting  a  livelihood  by 
serving  at  the  altar,  than  through  an  ardent  zeal  to 
advance  the  glory  of  God,  hence  it  is  that  ministers 
fall  into  several  errors,  giving  evident  proofs  of  that  in- 
dolence and  unconcern  which  afford  matter  of  scandal  rath- 
er than  edification.*' 

Every  minister  who  would  see  a  genuine  revival  will 
do  well  to  take  to  heart  these  words  of  faithful  warning. 
He  who.  like  Paul,  has  been  made  to  feel  "Woe  unto  me 
if  I  preach  not  the  gospel"  needs  also  to  feel.  Woe  unto 
me  if  I  fail  to  preach  that  gospel  with  the  Holy  Ghost 
sent  down  from  heaven !  Woe  unto  me,  if  I  fail  to  declare 
all  the  counsel  of  God !  Woe  unto  me  if  I  do  not  so 
preach  that  God  shall  be  glorified  and  souls  snatched  from 
eternal  burnings  ! 

The  history  of  revivals  is  a  history  of  plain  faithful 
preaching  both  of  the  terrors  of  the  law  and  the  glad  tid- 
ings of  the  gospel.  As  in  the  olden  time  the  law  must  be 
made  a  schoolmaster  to  bring  men  to  Christ.    Rev.  E. 


110 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


Wigle  in  his  work  Prevailing  Prayer  says : 

''Frequently,  under  the  ministry  of  such  men  as  Heze- 
kiah  C.  Worcester  and  Benjamin  Abbott,  men  fell  as  if  shot 
in  battle.  There  was  a  holy  unction  attending  their  preach- 
ing which  seems  to  have  dropped  out  of  the  pulpit.  Speak- 
ing of  Worcester,  Dr.  Bangs  writes :  'The  grace  of  God 
wrought  mightily  in  him.  Oh,  what  awful  sensations  ran 
through  the  assemblies  while  Calvin  Worcester  and  others 
of  Hke  spirit  were  denouncing  the  just  judgments  ofGod 
against  the  impenitent  sinner.'  'Such  was  the  unction  of 
his  spirit,'  says  another,  'and  the  bold,  resisless  power  of 
his  appeals  to  the  wicked,  that  few  of  them  could  stand 
before  him,  they  would  either  rush  out  of  the  house  or  fall 
to  the  floor  under  his  word.'  It  is  recorded  of  this  holy 
man  that  when  so  far  reduced  as  not  to  be  able  to  speak 
above  a  whisper,  his  whispered  utterances  conveyed  by 
another  to  the  assembly,  would  thrill  them  like  a  trumpet, 
and  fall  with  such  power  on  the  hearers  that  stout-hearted 
men  were  smitten  down  to  the  floor;  and  his  very  aspect 
is  said  to  have  so  shone  in  the  ^divine  glory  that  it  struck 
conviction  into  the  hearts  of  many  who  beheld  him.'  Dr. 
Bangs  further  says :  'At  a  quarterly  meeting  in  the  Bay 
of  Quinte  circuit,  as  the  preacher  commenced  his  sermon 
a  thoughtless  man  in  the  front  gallery  commenced,  in  a 
playful  mood,  to  swear  profanely,  and  otherwise  to  disturb 
the  congregation.  The  preacher  paid  no  attention  to  him 
until  he  was  in  the  midst  of  his  sermon,  when,  feeling 
strong  in  faith  and  the  power  of  God's  might,  suddenly 
stopping,  he  fixed  his  piercing  eyes  on  the  profane  man; 
then,  stamping  his  foot,  and  pointing  his  finger  at  him 
with  great  energy,  he  cried  out,  "My  God,  smite  him!" 
He  instantly  fell,  as  if  shot  through  the  heart  with  a  bul- 


PHEi^ARATTION  FOR  A  REVIVAL.  Ill 


let.  At  this  moment  such  a  divine  afflatus  came  down 
upon  the  congregation  that  sinners  were  crying  to  God  for 
mercy  in  every  direction,  while  the  saints  of  God  burst 
forth  in  loud  praises  to  His  name.  Similar  instances  of 
God's  gracious  presence  were  not  uncommon  in  those 
days.'  " 

CONFESSION  AND  HUMILIATION. 

We  have  mentioned  heartfelt  repentance  and  humili- 
ation on  the  part  of  professed  Christians  as  one  of  the 
direct  means  of  promoting  a  revival.  We  have  known  the 
public  and  detailed  confession  of  sins  known  only  to  God, 
to  be  carried  too  far ;  but  the  danger  is  far  greater  on  the 
other  side. 

Many  times  in  our  experience  have  we  seen  the  Lord's 
work  hindered  or  destroyed  by  a  refusal  on  the  part  of  pro- 
fessed Christians  to  humble  themselves  and  acknowledge 
to  God  and  man  their  true  standing,  while  on  the  other 
hand  we  have  seen  the  hearts  of  the  unsaved  reached  and 
influence  gained  for  God  when  the  Lord's  professed  fol- 
lowers frankly  acknowledged  whatever  was  wrong  in  their 
hearts  and  lives.  , 

During  the  winter  of  11878,  which  was  soon  after  we 
first  entered  upon  evangelistic  work,  we  were  engaged  in 
a  revival  effort  with  ,an  uncle  who  was  pastor  of  the  M.  E. 
church  at  Lakeville,  Indiana.  The  church  was  cold  and 
formal  and  but  Httle  interest  was  manifested.  For  several 
nights  we  plead  with  sinners  but  saw  no  move.  But.  one 
night  the  Lord  came  in  melting  power  and  gave  the  mem- 
bers of  the  church  grace  to  humble  themselves,  and  fifteen 
or  twenty  came  to  the  altar  weeping,  acknowledging  their 
backslidden  condition  and  heartily  confessing  their  faults 


11^  OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 

to  each  other  and  to  the  world.  This  moved  the  whole 
town,  and  from  that  time  the  revival  swept  on  in  mighty 
power. 

Another  sudden  break  took  place  in  a  revival  at  Frank- 
lin, Missouri,  which  we  held  a  year  or  two  later.  The 
meetings  were  held  in  the  Presbyterian  church  and  the 
members  were  so  spiritually  dead  that  we  could  hardly 
find  anybody  to  lead  in  prayer  in  public.  We  wept  and 
prayed  and  preached  night  after  night  but  saw  no  break 
nor  move  until  one  night  while  we  were  preaching  about 
Lot  in  Sodom,  the  Lord  came  in  power.  The  people  were 
melted  down  before  God  and  a  large  number  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  churches  came  to  the  altar  and  cried  for  mercy. 
From  that  time  the  work  went  on  in  earnest,  and  within 
two  or  three  weeks  a  large  number  gave  their  hearts  to 
God. 

Again,  some  years  ago,  while  holding  a  meeting  in  the 
M.  E.  Church  at  Morocco,  Indiana,  we  had  a  hard  strug- 
gle. The  Lord  greatly  blessed  and  helped  us  in  preaching 
but  seemingly  with  little  efifect.  Thus  the  meetings  went 
on  for  several  days  and  the  searching  light  of  God's  truth 
Vv^as  being  thrown  on  the  hearts  of  the  people,  until,  to  the 
surprise  of  everyone,  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the 
church,  who  w^as  also  one  of  the  most  prominent  citizens 
of  the  place,  a  physician,  Sabbath  school  superintendent 
and  class-leader,  and  who  was  certainly  one  of  the  most 
zealous  members  in  the  church,  and  was  honestly  believed 
to  be  the  best,  got  up  one  night,  and  with  tears  running 
down  his  face,  acknowledged  that  he  was  backslidden  in 
heart  and  had  been  a  hypocrite ;  then  declaring  that  he  was 
not  fit  to  go  to  the  altar,  he  fell  on  his  face  on  the  floor 


PREPARATION  FOR  A  REVIVAL. 


118 


and  began  to  cry  to  God  for  mercy,  and  after  a  hard  strug- 
gle found  peace. 

Soon  after,  a  sister  who  was  also  a  prominent  member 
of  the  church  publicly  confessed  thafj  the  people  had  too 
much  confidence  in  her  and  that  she  had  been  guilty  of 
secret  sin  and  was  not  worthy  of  the  narne  of  Christian. 
Everybody  was  confounded  at  her  confession  but  God  was 
in  it  and  many  others  were  moved  to  humble  themselves 
and  confess  their  faults  and  their  sins  and  weep  in  heart- 
felt repentance  before  the  Lord.  Restitution  was  made  by 
many  and  for  two  or  three  weeks  Qod  worked  in  such 
powsr  among  the  people  that  not  only  the  village  but  the 
country  for  miles  around  was  greatly  stirred.  Many  were 
saved  and  sanctified  and  everywhere  people  were  talking 
about  the  wonderful  revival,  and  though  years  have  passed 
away  the  fruit  of  that  meeting  can  still  be  plainly  seen. 

We  have  already  referred  to  a  revival  we  held  in  New 
Haven,  Shiawassee  Co.,  Michigan,  seventeen  years  ago. 
The  meetings  commenced  in  the  Wesleyan  church.  For 
the  first  few  days  everything  seemed  to  be  bound  up — so 
much  so  that  we  were  tempted  to  close  the  meeting.  But 
in  answer  to  prayer,  God  got  hold  of  the  pastor  and  he 
saw  that  he  was  not  right  and  after  a  severe  struggle  he 
got  up  before  the  people  and  told  them  in  tears  that  he  was 
backslidden  and  wanted  them  to  pray  for  him.  Then  he 
went  to  the  altar  and  plead  with  God  till  victory  came — • 
then  still  weeping  he  went  to  some  of  the  brethren  that  he 
had  not  loved  as  a  Christian  should  and  embraced  them. 
It  was  a  melting  time.  Many  wept  and  cried  to  God  for 
mercy  and  the  weeping  and  pleading  did  not  stop  with  that 
night,  but  lasted  for  weeks  and  months  till  several  hun- 
dred were  gloriously  saved  or  sanctified.    So  far  as  we 


114 


OLD  TIME  RELlGlOlSf. 


know  there  has  never  been  another  revival  in  Michigan 
where  so  many  were  so  thoroughly  saved  and  that  bore 
so  much  lasting  fruit.  Hundreds,  we  believe,  are  to-day 
walking  with  God  as  the  result. 

Shortly  before  w€  went  to  New  Haven,  while  we  were 
laboring  with  the  Free  Methodist  pastor  at  Kalamazoo,  in 
that  state,  a  Baptist  minister  came  to  the  altar  and  con- 
fessed that  He  was  not  right  and  was  blessed  of  God.  The 
pastor  and  myself  went  home  with  him  and  remained  over 
night.  In  the  morning  before  we  were  up  we  heard  him 
confessing  to  his  wife  and  children  his  neglect  of  Chris- 
tian 'duty  and  his  lack  of  manifest  love  and  sympathy  for 
them.  After  breakfast,  confessions  broke  out  anew.  The 
wife  and  mother  began  to  weep  and  talk  to  a  daughter, 
twelve  or  fifteen  years  old,  of  her  little  sister  that  had  gone 
to  heaven  urging  her  to  give  her  heart  to  God  and  be 
ready  to  meet  her  there.  At  the  same  time  the  father  had 
his  arms  around  his  son,  who  was  already  a  young  man, 
confessing  his  faults  and  lack  of  love.  The  son's  heart 
was  touched  by  the  loving  words  of  his  father  and  he 
too  began  to  confess,  saying,  father,  I  am  the  one  to 
blame;  I  have  not  treated  you  as  I  should;  will  you  for- 
give me?"  They  forgave  each  other  and  God  forgave 
them  both.  We  set  out  some  chairs  and  called  for  ai^ 
altar  service  and  within  a  few  minutes  the  balance  of  the 
family  including  the  mother  and  four  children,  were  glori- 
ously set  free  in  the  love  of  God. 

At  another  place  where  members  of  the  church  who 
had  not  been  as  friendly  and  neighborly  as  they  should, 
broke  down  and  confessed  to  each  other,  God  came  and 
united  their  hearts  and  a  glorious  revival  was  the  result. 
And  just  now  there  comes  very  forcibly  to  mind  a  scene 


PREPARATION  FOR  A  REVIVAL. 


115 


we  witnessed  at  the  home  of  a  Brother  R — ,  a  JBaptist  dea- 
con now  in  glory.  Both  this  brother  and  his  wife  were 
seeking  the  blessing  of  holiness.  There  had  been  consid- 
erable hard  feeling  between  them  and  a  son-in-law.  He 
came  in  one  morning  and  under  the  softening  influence 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  confessions  were  made,  forgiv)eness 
asked,  they  embraced  one  another  and  God  came  in  power 
and  gave  them  clean  hearts  and  a  wonderful  experience  in 
His  love  that  they  had  never  known  before. 

We  might  continue  to  illustrate  from  our  own  experi- 
ence but  there  is  no  need.  Nor  are  confessions  profitable 
only  when  wilful  or  conscious  sin  has  been  indulged.  We 
readily  call  to  mind  several  instances  in  which  the  editors 
0'6,'religious  papers  have  under  the  light  of  the  Holy  Spir- 
it seen  that,  though  their  motives  had  been  pure,  they  had 
been  taking,  in  some  respects,  a  wrong  course,  and  in  a 
spirit  of  deep  humility  confessed  that  fact  to  all  their  read- 
ers. In  every  case  we  believe  that  instead  of  a  loss  of  in- 
fluence over  the  hearts  of  the  people,  their  influence  was 
increased  and  the  confidence  and  love  of  their  readers  won- 
derfully strengthened.  If  God's  people  everywhere  would 
honor  Him  by  humbly  acknowledging  their  feults  just  as 
far  as  the  Spirit  enables  them  to  see  them,  we  would  soon 
see  such  a  revival  as  has  not  been  witnessed  since  apos- 
tolic days ! 


CHAPTER  VII. 


SOME  OLD  TIME  PREACHERS. 

The  following  la  taken  from  the  Autobiography  of  James  B.  Finley,  a  noted 
minister  of  the  Methodist  Church,  an  account  of  whose  conversion  we  have 
already  given. 

.  The  following  graphic  description  of  backwoods 
preachers,  furnished  me  by  a  friend,  serves  not  only  to 
illustrate  'the  manner  in  which  many  preachers  were  manu- 
factured in  early  days,  but  will  convey  some  idea  of  their 
character  and  talents : 

A  Presbytery  of  the  Cumberland  Church  had  assem- 
bled in  one  of  the  valleys  of  the  Cumberland  range.  It 
was  a  season  of  spiritual  drought,  and  the  Churches  had 
suffered  from  famine.  The  members  of  the  ecclesiastical 
body  then  collected  in  their  semi-annual  convocation  were 
mostly  weather-beaten  veterans — men  who  had  braved 
the  earlier  dffficulties  of  the  denomination  to  which  they 
were  attached,  when,  about  twenty  years  before,  it  had 
seceded  from  the  parent  stock,  to  erect  a  banner  in  Zion 
with  a  new  device.  They  were  in  all  about  twenty  per- 
sons, of  whom  a  little  more  than  . half  were  preachers,  the 
rest  ruling  elders  of  congregations,  who  were  there  to 
represent  the  local  interests  of  the  Church  sessions 

This  meeting  was. at  a  solemn  crisis;  for  the  Church 
was  troubled,  and  the  way  before  her  was  shrouded  in 
darkness.  The  love  of  many  had  waxed  cold.  Defec- 
tions had  occurred.  Some  who  were  once  masters  an 
Israel  had  withdrawn,  carrying  off  weighty  influence  and 
leaving  perplexities  behind, 


SOME  OLD  TIME  PREACHERS. 


117 


Others  were  threatening  to  dissolve  the  Church  unless 
radiical  changes  were  made  in  doctrines  and  polity.  Alarm- 
ing coldness  prevailed  in  regard  to  candidates  for  the 
ministry,  none  having  offered  for  several  sessions,  and 
those  already  in  charge  giving  but  little  evidence  of  a 
disposition  to  advance  or  an  ability  to  labor  in  the  work 
which  they  had  professed  to  love.  Presbytery,  however, 
was  unusually  full,  nearly  every  Church  session  being 
represented,  and  not  one  of  the  ordained  ministers  absent. 
T'he  deliberations  were  opened,  as  usual,  with  prayer  by 
the  moderator,  an  aged  servant  of  God";  and  it  was  ob- 
served by  those  skilled  in  such  things,  that  there  was 
great  liberty  given  him  when  he  entreated  "that  the  God 
of  the  harvest,  in  infinite  mercy,  would  .send  more  labor- 
ers into  his  harvest." 

The  usual  formalities  being  ended,  the  opening  sermon 
was  preached  by  the  same  person.  His  subject  compre- 
hended the  character  and  importance  of  a  call  to  the 
Gospel  ministry,  and  was  treated  with  much  earnestness. 
The  morning  hour  being  ended,  the  body  adjourned  to 
early  candle-lighting.  A  considerable  crowd  had  assem- 
bled upon  this  novel  occasion,  and  it  v/as  under  their  hos- 
pitable roofs  that  the  members  found  welcome  reception. 
Few,  indeed,  of  the  mountain  cabins  in  the  vicinity  but 
what  received  one  or  more  upon  that  occasion,  glad  to  be 
permitted  to  talk  of  the  Savior  to  those  who  rarely  had 
such  opportunities  of  hearing  the  Gospel.  Night  brought 
them  all  back  again  to  the  house  of  gathering.  It  was  a 
singularly  wild  and  startling  scene  to  one  who  ihas  not 
mixed  in  the  different  phases  of  frontier  life.  The  build- 
ing in  which  the  meeting  was  held  was  a  plain  log-cabin, 
the  dwelling  of  one  of  the  elders,  and  only  selected  on 


118 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


account  of  its  being  the  largest  in  the  vicinity.  There 
were  the  beds  and  the  furniture  of  the  whole  family,  no 
unproliific  one  at  that,  stowed  around  a  room  but  twenty, 
feet  square.  I 

Upon  those  beds  and  upon  seats  made  by  laying  split 
puncheons  upon  crass  logs,  was  seated  the  company  of 
men,  women,  and  children,  ministers,  delegates,  and  all, 
each  glad  to  endure  a  process  of  compression  for  a  few; 
hours,  in  the  expectation  of  an  intellectual  reward.  j 

It  had  been  before  arranged  ithat  this  night's  meeting 
should  be  devoted  to  candidates  for  the  ministry.  A  call 
was,  therefore,  made  "to  all  who  had  felt  impressions  to 
preach  to  come  forward  and  converse  with  Presbytery  on 
the  subject."  Every  one  must  undergo  this  peculiar  or- 
deal who  inclines  to  enter  the  ministry;  and  there  are  no 
traditions  in  the  Church  more  entertaining  than  those 
which  tell  how  the  ministers  who  are  now  burning  and 
shining  lights  made  their  first  awkward  and  unpromising 
exhibit  before  Presbytery.  i 

The  call  being  made  by  the  presiding  officer,  three  per- 
sons arose  to  their  feet.  Of  the  first  and  second  it  will 
be  unnecessary  here  to  speak.  The  third  had  stood  partly 
concealed  in  a  dark  corner  of  the  room,  while  the  others 
were  relating  ithe  particulars  which  induped  the  Presby- 
tery to  accept  them  as  probationers ;  but  now  he  stepped 
forward  and  faced  the  moderator.  His  appearance  ex- 
cited a  universal  start  of  surprise  even  among  that  unso- 
phisticated audience,  accustomed  to  great  peculiarities  of 
dress  and  rudeness  of  manner.  L<et  the  reader  imagine 
a  person  dressed  in  what  is  styled  copperas  cloith ;  that  is, 
a  cloth  home-spun,  home-woven,  home-cut,  and  home- 
sewed,  dyed  in  that  bilious  hue  which  is  formed  by  cop- 


SOME  OLD  TIME  PREACHERS. 


110 


peras,  alum,  and  walnut  bark,  and  made  into  coat,  vest, 
and  breeches. 

To  this  add  brogans  of  home-tanned,  red  leather,  tied 
with  a  leather  thong,  covering  immense  feet,  made — both 
feet  and  brogans — for  climbing  hills,  and  you  have  the 
portrait  of  a  mountain  boy;  able  ait  full  run  to  scale  a 
bluff,  to  live  upon  the  proceeds  of  his  rifle  for  support, 
and  to  whip  any  lowland  fellow  in  the  state.  Such  was 
the  person  who  left  his  dark  corner  and  came  into  the  full 
blaze  of  the  pine-knot  fire.  He  was  weeping  bitterly, 
and,  having  no  handkerchief,  the  primitive  arrangement 
for  such  cases  provided  was  necessarily  adopted.  He 
stood  silent  for  a  minute,  every  beholder  awaiting  with 
intense  curiosity  the  announcement  of  his  business,  then, 
clearing  his  throat,  commenced,  "IVe  come  to  Pre'sby 

 but  a  new  flood  of  tears  impeded  his  efforts  to 

speak.  The  moderator  kindly  remarked,  "And  what  did 
you  came  to  Presbytery  for,  my  good  friend?  Take  your 
own  time  and  tell  us  all  about  it;  don't  be  alarmed;  be 
seated;  nobody  will  hurt  you.  Come,  now,  tell  us  what 
you  come  to  Presbytery  for."  The  stranger  was  em- 
boldened by  this  to  commence  again,  even  the  third  and 
fourth  time,  but  could  never  proceed  further  than  I've 
come  to  Presby  ,"  and  the  storm  of  his  soul  prevailed. 

Here  one  of  the  members  suggested  that  he  had  better 
retire  with  some  one,  and  communicate  his  wishes  pri- 
vately; for  as  yet  no  person  imagined  his  true  errand, 
but  rather  supposed  that  he  was  laboring  under  some 
spiritual  difficulty,  which  he  would  needs  have  settled  by 
the  meeting.  But  to  this  hint  he  resolutely  demurred, 
replying  "that  he'd  get  his  voice  d'reckly,  please  God ;" 
and  so  he  did  ;  and  he  rose  up,  straightening  his  gaunt. 


120 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


awkward  form,  and  then  such  words  as  passed  his  lips 
had  never  before  rung  through  that  assembly. 

I  shall  not  attempt — nor  could  I  do  it,  for  want  of  a 
report — to  quote  his  own  words ;  but  the  oldest  minister 
present  declared,  years  afterward,  that  they  scorched  and 
burnt  wherever  they  fell.  A  sketch  of  his  subject  will  be 
sufficient  here.  It  seems  that  he  had  lived  all  his  days 
in  ignorance  and  sin,  without  an  hour's  schooling,  with- 
out any  training  either  for  this  world  or  the  next,  with- 
out any  knowledge  of  the  affairs  of  humanity,  having 
sprung  up  like  one  of  the  cedars  on  his  own  mountains, 
and  with  as  little  cultivation.  Thus  he  had  passed  more 
than  twenty  years,  laboring  in  a  humble  way  for  support, 
and  at  times  pursuing  the  pleasures  and  profits  of  the 
chase.  , 

A  few  months  back  he  had  accidentally  fallen  in  with 
a  itraveling  preacher,  who  had  lost  his  way  among  the 
mountains,  and,  by  several  miles  travel,  had  put  him  on 
the  right  track.  ; 

The  minister,  interested  at  the  oddity  of  his  appearance 
and  his  intense  ignorance  of  every  thing  relgious,  devoted 
the  hour  to  a  sketch  of  this  world's  condition,  buried  in 
sin,  his  own  perilous  state,  and  the  value  of  his  immortal 
soul,  and  concluded  by  kneeling  with  him,  at  the  root  of 
a  tree,  and  pleading  with  God  for  his  spiritual  regenera- 
tion. They  parted,  and  met  no  more,  but  the  influence  of 
that  meeting  parted  not.  The  Spirit  which  dictated  the 
good  man's  effort,  abode  henceforward  in  the  temple  of 
his  heart.  A  voice  began  to  whisper  in  his  ears,  "Re- 
pent, repent ;  why  will  ye  die?"  A  load,  a  weight  of  moun- 
tains, pressed  upon  his  soul.    Sleep  forsook  his  eyelids. 


SOME  OLD  TIME  PREACHERS. 


121 


His  ax  rus'ted  by  the  pile ;  his  rifle  hung,  dust-covered,  on 
the  wall. 

The  simple-hearted  neighbors,  ignorant  as  himself, 
pronounced  him  deranged ;  the  younger  portion  called  it 
love;  a  few,  not  slanderous,  but  suspicious,  thought,  in  a 
private  Vv^ay,  it  might  be  liquor.  The  man  himself  sought 
religious  meetings,  but  they  were  few  and  distant,  and  he 
heard  no  echo  to  the  voice  within  him,  and  he  still  returned 
hungry  and  dissatisfied. 

The  people  of  a  certain  town  will  not  soon  forget  the 
apparition  of  that  awkward  and  ill-dressed  man  who  vis- 
ited their  churches, to  plant  himself  in  front  of  the  pul- 
pit, and  to  hsten  to  the  exercises  with  all  that  attention 
which  the  criminal  upon  the  gallows  bestows  upon  the 
distant  horseman,  who,  perhaps,  brings  him  the  expected 
reprieve.  It  was  in  the  midst  of  a  camp  meeting  fervor 
that  he  at  last  found  peace ;  and  there  his  frantic  ejacula- 
tion, "I've  got  it,  I've  got  it !"  was  like  the  world-wide 
Eureka  of  the  Syracusan,  when  his  grand  discovery  first 
electrified  his  own  breast. 

Then  he  came  home  to  tell  his  neighbors  what  the  Lord 
had  done  for  his  soul.  Forsaking  all  other  duties,  he 
wandered  from  cabin  to  cabin,  and,  wherever  he  found  a 
hearer,  he  called  upon  him  to  forsake  his  sins.  His  ardor 
increased  ever}r  day. 

Soon  his  rude  but  forcible  illustrations  began  to  tell 
upon  the  hearts  of  those  simple  mountaineers,  as  the 
words  of  a  second  John  Baptist,  crying  out,  "Prepare  ye 
the  way  of  the  Lord,  make  his  paths  straight." 

And  yet  he  seemed  to  have  no  idea  that  he  was  called 
to  preach.  Such  thought  as  that  of  entering  the  ministry 
did  not  enter  his  breast.    Although  his  heart  overfTowed 


122 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION, 


with  the  one  subject,  and  he  declared  his  determination 
to  speak  that  subject  to  others,  so  long  as  he  lived,  yet  it 
was  only  as  a  friend  counsels  friend  that  he  expected  to 
do  it — no  more.  How  could  he  become  a  preacher?  He 
couldn't  read  a  hymn  or  a  text;  he  hadn't  means  to  buy 
decent  clothing,  or  pay  for  a  session's  schooHng.  But  he 
was  guided  right,  for  he  fell  in  with  a  gentleman  who  was 
botanizing  among  his  native  hills,  and  had  the  good  for- 
tune to  spend  a  Sabbath  in  his  company.  This  man,  a 
profound  observer  of  human  nature,  and  a  friend  o'f  his 
species,  was  struck  with  the  peculiarities  of  the  case,  and^ 
although  no  professor  in  a  religious  way,  yet  he  felt  con- 
vinced that  the  hand  of  might  was  here.  He,  therefore,  ad- 
vised him  to  apply  to  some  religious  association,  before 
which  he  could  lay  open  his  heart,  and  be  understood. 

The  result  of  this  counsel  we  have  seen  in  his  coming 
to  Presbytery,  and  presenting  himself,  a  stranger  to  all,  in 
the  manner  before  described.  This  history,  much  elabo- 
rated, he  gave  out  with  a  volubility  that  took  away  the 
breath.  i 

The  pine  fire  blazed  low ;  the  dipped  and  shapeless  can- 
dles simmered  themselves  into  torrents,  unobserved  by  the 
hearers,  while  all  sat  spell-bound  at  the  recital.  With  un- 
couth gestures,  words  barbarous  as  the  African's,  alter- 
nately crying  and  laughing,  as  he  wandered  from  his  first 
agony  to  his  final  triumph,  and  shouting  till  his  voice  rang 
back  from  the  hill-side,  the  mountain  boy  enchained  each 
heart,  till  its  very  pulsations  might  be  heard.  There  was 
not  a  dry  eye  in  the  assembly.  The  gray-haired  mode- 
rator sobbed  aloud.  The  more  excitable  joined,  from  time 
to  time,  in  his  shouts,  as  the  words  of  victory  rung  in 
their  ears ;  and  when,  after  a  sentence  of  great  length,  he 


SOME  OLD  TIME  PREACHERS 


123 


declared  that  "glory  was  begun  in  his  heart,"  and  that 
'*God  alone  had  done  this  work  within  him,"  not  one  who 
was  experienced  in  such  announcements  but  declared  his 
conviction  that  it  was  even  so-^he  hand  of  God  was  there. 

A  brief  consultation  ensued,  and  then,  by  general  con- 
sent, George  Willets  was  duly  received  as  a  candidate  for 
the  holy  ministry.  The  next  event  in  his  history  will  carry 
us  more  than  ten  years  forward. 

Much  may  be  said  about  camp  meetings,  but,  take 
them  all  in  all,  for  practical  exhibition  of  religion,  for 
unbounded  hospitality  to  strangers,  for  unfeigned  and  fer- 
vent spirituality,  give  me  a  country  camp  meeting  against 
the  world. 

It  was  not  many  years  ago  that  I  was  traversing  the 
hills  in  that  vicinity  in  search  of  some  rare  specimens  of 
crinoids,  that  could  only  be  found  thereabouts.  My  wallet 
hung  heavily  by  my  side — for  the  crinoidea  abound  all 
through  that  range — and  my  steps  were  perceptibly  short- 
ening as  I  toiled  up  the  hill  which  separated  me  from  my 
boarding-house,  when  I  was  overtaken  by  a  horseman, 
who,  as  soon  as  he  approached  abreast  of  me,  dismounted 
without  a  question,  and  asked  me  to  ride  and  tie  with  him. 
The  proposition  was  so  bluntly  made  as  to  leave  out  all 
possibility  of  refusal,  and  I  at  once  acceded  to  his  request. 
On  we  jogged  together,  and  before  I  knew  what  I  was 
about,  I  found  myself  giving  him  a  somewhat  tedious 
report  of  my  day's  labdt,  even  to  the  preciseness  of  spec- 
ifying the  peculiar  species  gathered. 

He  heard  me  patiently  through — I  laugh  at  myself  now 
when  I  think  of  it — and  then,  with  the  most  singular  earn- 
estness, inquired  if  I  thought  such  labor  redounded  to  the 
glory  of  God!  Although  taken  all  aback,  as  the  sailors 


124 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


say,  by  the  oddity  of  the  association,  yet  I  was  not  ill- 
read  in  the  arguments  of  Buckland,  Silliman,  and  Paley, 
and  I  replied  that  divines  of  the  greatest  eminence  con- 
sider the  study  of  nature  as  the  study  of  the  first  revela- 
tion of  God.  He  was  struck  with  the  remark,  hackneyed 
as  it  was,  and  labored  to  draw  me  further  out;  but,  feel- 
ing some  diffidence  upon  this  branch  of  my  profession,  I 
declined  further  debate,  and  changed  the  handle  of  the 
conversation  into  his  hand.  He  took  it,  and  it  was  then 
all  about  Jesus  Christ  and  his  religion,  and  how  much 
that  religion  is  needed  in  the  world,  and  how  well  every 
kind  of  talent  fits  in  the  spiritual  temple  not  made  with 
hands,  and  a  great  deal  more  to  the  same  purpose.  Ar- 
riving in  sight  of  my  boarding-house,  he  asked  me,  in  a 
most  humble  and  winning  tone,  if  I  would  join  him  in  a 
wayside  prayer;  and  as  I  could  not,  for  the  life  of  me, 
refuse,  we  kneeled  together,  and  he  prayed  for  the 
^'learned  and  interesting  stranger,"  that  he  might  be  led 
to  the  foot  of  the  cross  in  an  early  day,  and  find,  with  a 
vision  sharpened  by  faith,  that  the  ^^revelation  of  grace" 
far  exceeds  the  '^revelation  of  nature,"  in  its  displays  of 
the  wisdom,  power,  and  love  of  God.  We  parted  then, 
neither  having  inquired  the  name  or  residence  of  the  other. 

A  few  days  afterward  the  Bethel  camp  meeting  com- 
menced, and  I  did  not  fail  to  be  there.  I  arrived  just 
before  sundown  Saturday  evening,  and  before  any  relig- 
ious excitement  had  commenced.  The  meeting  opened, 
as  usual,  on  Friday  by  a  senmon  at  night.  On  the  next 
day  the  custom  requires  a  morning  sermon,  and  another 
at  candle-light,  while  upon  the  Sabbath  not  less  than  three 
are  expected  by  the  crowded  audiences  that  cover  the 
camp-ground  on  that  day. 


SOME  OLD  TIME  PREACHERS. 


125 


The  scene,  as  I  approached  it,  was  highly  interesting, 
and  my  note-books  are  crammed,  page  atter  page,  with 
memoranda  thai  fairly  sparkle  with  such  leaders  as — vivid 
rare — contrast  of  colors — clear  heavens — solemnity, 
etc.;  but  it  has  been  better  described  in  the  series  styled, 
"Needles  from  my  Needle-Book,"  in  M'Makin's  Courier, 
than  I  could  do  it ;  so  I  desist.  *  *  *  Long  before  eleven 
o'clock  on  Sunday  morning  I  had, seated  myself  at  a  con- 
venient point  to  see  and  hear — to  see  the  audience  and 
hear  the  preacher. 

The  blowing  of  the  horn  called  every  one,  young  and 
old,  to  the  stand,  and  by  their  eagerness  it  was  plain  that 
something  was  expected  beyond  the  ordinary ;  and  I  con- 
gratulated myself  upon  having  secured  so  favorable  a 
location,  to  gain  the  full  advantage  of  it. 

The  opening  services,  which  are  usually  short  at  camp 
meetings,  were  soon  passed  over,  for  it  is  plain  that  this 
class  of  preachers  look  upon  them  as  lightly  as  Napoleon 
estimated  the  Tirailleur  service,  and  they  hasten  up  the 
artillery. 

The  text  was  announced  in  a  voice  that  I  immediately 
recognized  as  that  oi  my  traveling  friend  of  a  few  days 
previous.  I  rejoiced  at  the  omen.  His  subject  of  dis- 
course was  embraced  in  the  single  word  "Consider,"  and 
led  ofif  by  the  odd  remark,  that  if  we  would  read  the  Bi- 
ble diligently  we  could  find  it  there,  so  he  thought  it  un- 
necessary to  point  out  chapter  and  verse!  It  is  immate- 
rial for  me  to  follow  him  through  his  divisions  and  exhi- 
bitions of  the  subject.  ^My  purpose  is  simply  to  show 
what  the  mountain  preacher-boy,  for  it  was  he,  had  done 
with  himself  in  ten  years,  during  which  he  had  been  de- 
voted to  the  calling  of  a  minister.    His  first  half  year  had 


126 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


been  spent  in  school,  and  although  his  educational  prog- 
ress had  hardly  been  such  as  his  friends  anticipated,  yet 
by  preaching  nights  and  Sundays,  and  exhorting  all  the 
time,  he  had  got  up  a  revival  of  religion  in  the  school 
which  swept  like  wildfire,  and  brought  in  scores  to  the 
fold  of  the  Church. 

At  the  next  Presbytery  he  came  up  to  beg  leave  to  oc- 
cupy a  circuit,  and  despite  of  his  limited  acquirements — 
for  as  yet  he  could  barely  read  a  text  or  write  a  copy — 
that  body  had  regard  to  the  peculiarities  of  his  case,  and 
licensed  him.  That  constituted  the  true  commencement 
of  his  career;  from  this  hour  he  was  a  man  in  the  Mas- 
ter's work.  It  has  been  often  remarked  among  the  Meth- 
odist denomination,  that  the  circuit  is  the  true  college  of 
the  young  preacher.  It  proved  so  in  the  case  of  George 
Willets.  His  idiosyncrasy  was  to  tell  a  thing  as  soon  as 
he  learned  it;  and  while  he  could  preach  at  night  the 
Scripture  that  he  had  studied  through  the  day,  he  made 
unbounded  improvement.  His  memory  proved  retentive; 
his  ideality  was  highly  vivid;  perseverance  attended  him 
as  a  shadow,  and  unlimited  love  for  the  souls  of  the  world 
kept  him  up,  and  kept  him  going.  There  was  never  a 
better  combination  of  native  talent  for  the  pulpit,  but  liter- 
ary training  was  wanting. 

In  sheer  desperation  the  Presbytery  concluded  at  last  to 
ordain  him,  and  did  so,  although  by  a  breach  of  the 
Church's  rule  as  to  literary  qualifications.  It  happened 
that  the  occasion  on  which  I  first  met  him  was  his  first 
sermon  since  his  ordination,  and  that  for  the  first  time  in 
his  life  he  was  to  officiate  in  the  administration  of  the 
Lord's  supper. 

The  whole  tenor  of  his  discourse  was  to  show  sinners 


SOME  OLD  TIME  PREACHERS. 


127 


where  they  stand,  and  where  they  might  stand.  There  was 
much  eloquence,  remarkable  originality,  even  to  coarse- 
ness, for  I  recollect  that  one  of  his  comparisons  intro- 
duced fighting-chickens  and  their  owners;  powerful  ap- 
peals to  the  human  heart,  which  he  had  read  as  a  master ; 
but  best  of  all,  a  vein  of  tenderness  so  pure,  so  gentle, 
that  hundreds  of  us  were  lost  in  tears.  The  peroration  was 
tremendous.  How  such  a  voice  could  come  from  mortal 
lungs,  I  am  not  physiologist  enough  to  explain,  but  it 
raised  us  to  our  feet  like  a  trumpet,  swayed  us  to  and  fro, 
to  follow,  as  I  suppose,  the  directions  of  his  hand;  and! 
at  the  closing  appeal  *^for  mourners  to  come  forward  and 
be  prayed  for,"  such  a  rush  was  made  that  I  could  not 
have  withdrawn  from  my  position  with  less  than  Amalek's 
strength,  and  was  compelled  to  endure  such  compression 
as  I  never  before  experienced. 

At  the  hour  of  communion-service  I  heard  him  depic- 
ture the  scene  "on  that  dark,  that  doleful  night," 

"When  power  of  earth  and  hell  arrayed 
Against  the  Son  of  God's  delight." 

and  truly  I  had  never  before  seen  the  face  of  the  Man  of 
sorrows,  nor  heard  Him  speak.  Will  the  reader  forgive 
the  personal  allusion,  when  I  say  that,  cynic  as  I  may  be, 
or  may  have  been,  that  effort  brought  my  inmost  soul  to 
declare  that  "almost  thou  persuadest  me  to  be  a  Chris- 
tian." At  night  that  mountain  voice  again  spoke  upon  us, 
and  ere  I  left  the  next  morning  a  large  accession,  in  the 
way  of  new  converts,  was  joyfully  announced  to  the  con- 
gregation. 

Since  that  period  I  have  often  sat  under  the  ministry 
of  George  Willets,  and  never  but  to  admire  the  inexhaust- 


128 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


ible  fertility  of  a  soil  that  lay  fallow  for  so  many  years. 
Maturity  of  intellect  is  upon  him.  The  vagaries  of  his 
youthful  exercise  in  the  pulpit  have  been  conquered,  but 
the  eloquence,  the  originality,  the  gentle  vein  of  Christian 
love  he  retains. 

I  have  been  furnished  with  another  sketch  of  a  back- 
woods preacher,  which  I  will  give. 

Immense  was  the  gathering  at  the  ^lethodist  camp- 
ground near  Springfield,  on  the  second  Sunday  of  Sep- 
tember, 1832.  A  powerful  magnet  had  attracted  this 
great  mass  of  people  from  their  homes  in  many  counties 
a  hundred  miles  round.  The  new  presiding  elder,  a  late 
arrival  from  Kentucky,  an  orator  of  wide-spread  and  won- 
derful renown,  it  was  known,  would  thunder  on  that  day. 
The  glittering  prestige  of  his  fame  had  lightened  be  "ore 
him,  and  hence  the  universal  eagerness  to  hear  one  con- 
cerning whom  rumor's  trumpet  tongue  discoursed  so 
loudly. 

Morning  broke  in  the  azure  east,  bright  and  beautiful 
as  a  dream  of  heaven  ;  but  the  ex-prodigy  had  not  made 
his  advent.  Eleven  o'clock  came — the  regular  hour  of 
the  detonation  of  the  heavy  gun  of  orthodoxy — and  still 
there  was  no  news  of  the  clerical  lion.  A  common  circuit 
preacher  took  his  place,  and,  sensible  of  the  popular  dis- 
appointment, increased  it  by  mouthing  a  miserable  failure. 
The  vexed  and  restless  crowd  began  to  disperse,  when  an 
event  happened  to  excite  afresh  their  curiosity  and  con- 
centrate them  again  denser  than  ever.  A  messenger 
rushed  to  the  pulpit  in  hot  haste,  and  presented  a  note, 
which  was  immediately  read  out  to  prevent  the  people 
from  scattering.  The  following  is  a  literal  copy  of  that 
singular  epistle : 


SOME  OLD  TIME  PREACHERS 


129 


"Dear  Brethren, — The  devil  has  foundered  my  horse, 
which  will  detain  me  from  reaching  your  tabernacle  till 
evening.  I  might  have  performed  the  journey  on  foot; 
but  I  could  not  leave  poor  Paul,  especially  as  he  has 
never  left  Peter.  Horses  have  no  souls  to  save,  and, 
therefore,  it  is  all  the  more  the  duty  of  Christians  to  take 
care  of  their  bodies.  Watch  and  pray,  and  don't  let  the 
devil  get  among  yon  on  the  sly  before  candle-light,  when 
I  shall  be  at  my  post 

"Your  brother   

At  length  the  day  closed.  The  purple  curtain  of  night 
fell  over  the  earth  from,  the  darkening  sky.  God's  golden 
fire  flashed  out  in  heaven,  and  men  below  kindled  their 
watch-fires.  The  encampment,  a  village  of  snowy  tents, 
was  illuminated  with  a  brillancy  that  caused  every  leaf 
to  shine  and  sparkle  as  if  all  the  trees  were  burnished 
with  phosphorescent  flame.  It  was  Hke  a  theater.  It 
was  a  theater  in  the  open  air,  on  the  green  sward,  beneath 
the  starry  blue,  incomparably  more  picturesque  and  gor- 
geous than  any  stage  scenery,  prepared  within  walls  of 
brick  or  marble,  where  the  elite  of  cities  throng  to  feast 
their  eyes  on  beauty  and  their  ears  on  music  of  silvery 
sound*. 

Presently  a  form  arose  in  the  pulpit,  and  commenced 
giving  out  a  hymn,  preliminary  to  the  main  exercises,  and 
every  eye  became  rivited  to  the  person  of  the  stranger. 
Indeed,  as  some  one  said  of  Burke,  a  single  flash  of  the 
gazer's  vision  was  enough  to  reveal  the  extraordinary 
man,  although,  in.  the  present  case,  it  must,  for  the  sake 
of  truth,  be  acknowledged  that  the  first  impression  was 
ambiguous,  If  not  enigmatical  and  disagreeable.  His  fig- 
ure was  tall,  burly,  massive,  and  seemed  even  more  gi- 


130 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


gantic  than  the  reality  from  the  crowning  foliage  of  lux- 
uriant, coal-black  hair,  wreathed  into  long,  curling  ring- 
lets. Add  a  head  that  looked  as  large  as  a  half-bushel, 
beetling  brows,  rough  and  craggy  as  fragmentary  gran- 
ite, irradiated  at  the  base  by  eyes  of  dark  fire,  small  and 
twinkling  like  diamonds  in  a  sea — ^they  were  diamonds 
of  the  soul,  shining  in  a  measureless  sea  of  humor — a 
swarthy  complexion,  as  if  embrowned  by  a  southern  sun, 
rich,  rosy  lips,  always  slightly  parted,  as  wearing  a  perpet- 
ual smile,  and  you  have  a  lifelike  portrait  of  Mr.  , 

the  far-famed  backwoods  preacher. 

Though  I  heard  it  all,  from  the  text  to  the  amen,  I  am 
forced  to  despair  of  any  attempt  to  convey  an  accurate 
idea  of  either  the  substance  or  manner  of  the  sermon 
which  followed.  There  are  different  sorts  of  sermons — 
the  argumentary,  the  dogmatic,  the  postulary.  the  per- 
suasive, the  punitive,  the  combative,  "in  orthodox  blows 
and  knocks,"  the  logical,  and  the  poetic;  but  this  speci- 
men belonged  to  none  of  these  categories.  It  was  sui 
'  '     generis,  and  of  a  new  species. 

He  began  with  a  loud  and  beautifully-modulated  tone, 
in  a  voice  that  rolled  on  the  serene  night  air  like  success- 
ive peals  of  grand  thunder.  Methodist  ministers  are  cele- 
brated for  sonorous  voices;  but  his  was  matchless  in 
sweetness  as  well  as  power.  For  the  first  ten  minutes  his 
remarks,  being  preparatory,  were  commonplace  and  unin- 
teresting; but  then,  all  of  a  sudden,  his  face  reddened, 
his  eye  l)rightened,  his  gestures  grew  animated  as  the 
waftures  of  a  fierce  torch,  and  his  whole  countenance 
changed  into  an  expression  of  inimitable  humor ;  and  now 
his  wild,  peculiar  eloquence  poured  forth  like  a  mountain 
torrent.  Glancing  arrows,  with  shafts  of  ridicule,  sparkled, 


Old  time  revivals. 


181 


flashed,  and  flew  like  hail  till  the  vast  auditory  was  con- 
vulsed with  laughter.  *  *  *  This  continued  thirty  min- 
utes, while  the  orator  painted  the  folly  of  the  sinner,  which 
was  his  theme.  I  looked  on  and  laughed  with  the  rest,  but 
finally  began  to  fear  the  result  as  to  the  speaker. 

"How,"  I  exclaimed,  mentally,  "will  he  ever  be  able 
to  extricate  his  audience  from  that  deep  whirlpool  of  hu- 
mor? If  he  ends  thus,  when  the  merry  mood  subsides, 
and  calm  reflection  supervenes,  will  not  the  revulsion  of 
feeling  be  deadly  to  his  fame  ?  Will  not  every  hearer  real- 
ize that  he  has  been  trifled  with  in  matters  of  sacred  and 
eternal  interests  ?  At  all  events,  there  is  no  prospect  of  a 
revival  to-night ;  for  were  the  orator  a  magician,  he  could 
not  change  his  subject  now,  and  stem  the  torrent  of  head- 
long laughter." 

But  the  shaft  of  my  inference  fell  short  of  the  mark; 
and  even  then  he  cornmenced  to  change,  not  all  at  once, 
but  gradually,  as  the  wind  of  a  thunder-cloud.  His  fea- 
tures lost. their  comical  tinge  of  pleasantry;  his  voice  grew 
first  earnest,  and  then  solemn,  and  soon  wailed  out  in  the 
tones  of  deepest  pathos ;  his  eyes  were  shorn  of  their  mild 
light,  and  yielded  streams  of  tears,  as  the  fountain  of  the 
hill  yielded  water.  The  effect  was  indescribable,  and  the 
rebound  of  feeling  beyond  all  revelation.  He  descanted 
on  the  horrors  of  hell,  till  every  shuddering  face  was 
turned  downward,  as  if  expecting  to  see  the  solid  globe 
rent  asunder,  and  the  fathomless,  fiery  gulf  yawn  from 
beneath.  Brave  men  moaned  like  sick  infants,  and  fair, 
fashionable  women,  covered  with  silken  drapery,  and  be- 
decked with  gems,  shrieked  as  if  a  knife  were  working 
among  their  heart-strings. 

Again  he  changed  the  theme;  sketched  the  joys  of  a 


132 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


righteous  death — its  faith,  its  hope,  its  winged  raptures, 
and  what  beautiful  angels  attended  the  spirit  to  its  starry 
home — with  such  force,  great  and  evident  belief,  that  all 
eyes  were  turned  toward  heaven,  as  the  entire  congrega- 
tion started  to  their  feet,  as  if  to  hail  the  vision  of  an- 
gels at  which  the  finger  of  the  preacher  seemed  to  be 
pointed,  elevated  as  it  was  on  high  to  the  full  length  of 
his  arm. 

He  then  made  a  call  for  mourners  into  the  altar,  and 
five  hundred,  many  of  them  till  that  night  infidels,  rushed 
forward  and  prostrated  themselves  on  their  knees.  The 
meeting  was  continued  for  two  weeks,  and  more  than  a 
thousand  converts  added  to  the  Church. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


OLD  TIME  REVIVALS. 

"Prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  Lord,  make  his  paths  straight."    Matl.  S:  3. 

"Thus  saith  the  Lord,  stand  ye  in  the  ways,  and  see,  and  ask  for  the  old 
paths,  where  is  the  good  way,  and  walk  therein,  and  ye  shall  find  rest  for  your 
souls."  Jer.  6:  16. 

"Bring  ye  all  the  tithes  into  the  storehouse,  that  there  may  be  meat  in 
mine  house,  and  prove  me  now  herewith,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  if  I  will  not 
open  you  the  windows  of  heaven,  and  pour  you  out  a  blessing,  that  there  shall 
not  be  room  enough  to  receive  it."  Mai.  3:  10. 

In  the  very  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century  this 
country  was  blessed  with  one  of  the  most  glorious  outpour- 
ings of  the  Holy  Spirit  known  in  the  history  of  the  Chris- 
tian church.  The  work  broke  out  in  Kentucky  and  is  often 
spoken  of  as  "The  Kentucky  Revivals"  and  as  the  ''Great 
Revival  in  the  West"  although  in  the  immediately  succeed- 
ing years  it  was  manifest  to  a  great  degree  over  the  entire 
land.  Foreign  Missionary  Societies,  The  American  Bible 
Society,  and  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  have 
been  recognized  as  a  part  of  the  blessed  results  of  that 
"time  of  refreshing."  After  that  revival  Dr.  Baxter  declared 
Kentucky  to  be  the  most  moral  place  he  had  ever  seen. 

Rev.  B.  Helm,  in  his  recent  work,  "Allie  in  Beulah 
Land"  tells  us :  Rev.  David  Rice,  one  of  the  pioneer  Pres- 
byterian ministers  of  Kentucky  wrote  of  that  revival  : 

"It  has  made  its  appearance  in  various  places  without 
any  extraordinary  means  to  produce  it.  .  .  .  The  first 
symptom  has  been  a  praying  spirit  in  a  few  pious  people 
among  them.  They  prayed,  incited  others,  organized  pray- 
ing societies,  that  they  might  meet,  encourage  and  assist 
others.    The  revival  appears  to  be  granted  in  answer  to 


134 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


prayer.  (2)  As  far  as  I  can  see  there  appears  to  be  in  the 
subjects  of  this  work  a  deep  heart  humbling  sense  of  the 
great  unreasonableness,  abominable  nature,  pernicious 
effects,  and  deadly  consequences  of  sin;  and  of  the  abso- 
lute unworthiness  of  the  sinful  creature  of  the  smallest 
crumb  of  mercy  from  the  hand  of  a  holy  God.  There  ap- 
pears to  be  in  them  a  deep  mourning  on  account  of  their 
own  sins,  and  the  sins  of  their  fellow  professors,  and  of 
the  careless  and  profane,  espcially  their  ingratitude  to  God. 
(3)  There  seems  to  be  deep  and  affecting  views  of  the 
condescension  and  love  of  God  in  giving  His  Son 
for  the  redemption  of  man ;  and  of  the  love  of  the  Redeem- 
er in  redeeming  them.  (4)  They  have  a  deep  longing  for 
the  conversion  of  souls,  and  of  their  worth,  and  of  love  to 
them.  Perhaps  the  ardency  of  their  love  sometimes  hur- 
ries them  into  indi'Scretions,  which  excite  the  prejudice  of 
those  for  whose  salvation  they  are  pleading.  (5)  A  great 
num'ber  of  individuals  seem  to  me  greatly  reformed  in 
their  morals — yea,  some  neighborhoods,  noted  for  their 
profane  and  vicious  manners,  are  now  as  much  noted  for 
their  piety  and  good  order.  (6)  Family  worship  is  estab- 
lished. (7)  The  subject  of  this  work  seem  to  be  very  sensi- 
ble of  the  necessity  of  sanctification,  as  well  as  justification, 
and  that  without  holiness  no  man  shall  see  the  Lord:  to 
be  very  desirious  that  they  themselves,  and  all  who  name 
the  name  of  the  Lord,  should  depart  from  all  iniquity, 
should  recommend  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ  to  the  con- 
sciences of  their  fellowmen  A  heaven  of  perfect  purity, 

and  the  full  enjoyment  of  God  appears  to  be  the  chief  and 
ultimate  desire  and  object  of  th^ir  pursuit.  Now  I  have 
given  you  my  reason  for  concluding  the  morning  has  come, 
and  that  we  are  blessed  with  a  real  revival  of  the  benign, 


OLD  TIME  REVIVALS. 


135 


heaven-born  religion  of  Jesus  Christ,  which  demands  our 
grateful  acknowledgment  to  God  the  Father,  Son  and  Holy 
Ghost." 

Of  this  great  work  we  give  two  brief  accounts.  One 
Df  these  is  taken  from  ^^A  Century  of  Revivals,"  the  other 
from  the  ''Autobiography  of  James  B.  Finley." 

FROM  "A  CENTURY  OP  REVIVALS." 

"From  about  1790  to  1800,  religion  was  at  a  very  low 
ebb  in  the  United  States.  There  was  only  about  one 
church  member  to  thirteen  of  the  population.  French  in- 
fidelity had  over-run  the  land,  undermining  the  faith  and 
morals  of  the  people.  Many  of  the  church  members  were 
unconverted,  and  the  dry  doctrinal  preaching  of  the  pul- 
pit had  no  power  to  arouse  the  church  from  its  lethargy. 
In  fact,  the  pulpit  was  thought  to  be  largely  unconverted. 
From  1792  to  1798  Methodism  had  been  losing  ground. 
In  one  year  it  had  lost  one-tenth  of  its  membershp  from 
the  U.  S.  Conference,  owing,  in  part,  to  the  O'Kelly  con- 
troversy. In  1796  official  calls  were  made  for  fasting  and 
prayer  by  presbyteries,  synods  and  the  General  Assembly. 
Ohio  presbytery  held  a  monthly  fast  day  all  through  the 
year  1796,  to  pray  for  the  outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
Written  covenants  were  drawn  up  in  Pennsylvania  to  pray 
for  a  revival.  The  revival  began,  as  might  have  been  ex- 
pected, in  the  church  that  had  so  sought.  McCready,  a 
revival  Presbyterian  preacher  in  Logan  county,  Ky.,  drew 
up  a  solemn  covenant  for  his  congregation.  Every  Satur- 
day evening,  every  Sabbath  morning,  and  one  whole  Sab- 
bath o'f  each  month,  for  a  year,  were  to  be  observed  as  a 
season  of  special  prayer  for  the  outpouring  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  in  Logan  county,  and  throughout  the  world.  In 


136 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


May,  1797,  in  Gasper  River  congregation,  in  Logan  coun- 
ty, Kentucky,  the  grand  work  began.  For  a  year  Mc- 
Cready's  members  had  been  coming  to  him  about  their 
spiritual  condition.  The  preaching  of  the  most  of  the 
preachers  of  his  denomination  was  dry,  formal  treatises 
on  doctrines.  One  writer  says  that  during  fourteen  years 
that  he  sat  under  Dr.  Craighead's  ministry,  he  never  heard 
a  sermon  on  repentance,  regeneration  and  faith  that  either 
tended  to  awaken  a  sinner,  or  teach  a  penitent  how  to  find 
peace.  McCready  had  been  a  revivalist  in  North  Carolina, 
and  his  preaching  awakened  his  people  to  their  condition. 

In  1898  a  more  general  awakening  occurred.  Secular 
business  was  forgotten.  Men  spent  days  alone  in  the 
woods,  praying.  When  there  was  no  preaching,  godless 
church  members  spent  much  time  talking  of  the  startling 
discovery  of  their  unsaved  state.  Such  was  the  case  all 
over  McCready's  field,  without  any  protracted  services. 

In  1799  the  interest  was  still  deeper,  especially  in  Gas- 
per congregation.  The  sacramental  meeting  was  a  time  of 
victory  to  some.  Men  overwhelmed  by  conviction  fell  to 
the  floor,  and  though  they  were  entirely  conscious,  as  they 
afterwards  testified,  yet  they  remained  prostrate  and  mo- 
tionless for  an  hour.  When  they  arose,  there  were  shouts 
of.  victory  on  their  tongues.  This  strange  exercise  drew 
vast  crowds  to  McCready's  meetings. 

One  family,  just  from  North  Carolina,  came  in  their 
wagon  and  'camped.'  McCready  seized  upon  the  camp- 
meeting  idea  from  this  ^first  camp-meeting  of  Christen- 
dom,' as  Rev.  John  McGee,  of  Methodism,  styled  it.  Mc- 
Cready now  published  far  and  near  that  the  sacramental 
meeting,  July,  1800,  of  Gasper  would  be'  a  camp-meeting. 
Som€  members  of  the  Shiloh,  Tenn.,  congregation  carrie 


OLD  TIME  REVIVALS. 


13? 


home  from  the  former  meeting  converted,  and  shouting 
the  praises  of  God.  Elder  Robert  King  said  he  would  send 
Rich,  a  son  educated  for  the  ministry ;  they  could  not  fool 
him  with  'fox-fire/  But  Rich  came  home  converted ;  and 
*Fox-Fire  Rich'  spread  it  till  twenty  were  converted  ere  a 
meeting  was  held.  Then  a  camp-meeting  was,  ordered,  and 
over  one  hundred  were  converted  in  the  face  of  his  anti- 
revivalist  father. 

In  1801  McCready  invited  the  Methodist  preachers,  and 
especially  John  Page,  powerful  in  the  pulpit,  and  popular 
among  Presbyterians,  to  attend. 

It  was  three  miles  north  of  Peter  Cartwright's  home. 
The  meeting  was  in  a  grove.  They  camped.  Men  slept 
under  the  wagons,  women  in  them,  while  some  stayed  with 
the  neighbors.  Peter  Cartwright  was  there,  a  guilty  sin- 
ner. He  says,  ''I  went  with  weeping  multitudes  and  bowed 
before  the  stand,  and  earnestly  prayed  for  mercy.  In  the 
midst  of  a  solemn  struggle  of  soul,  an  impression  was  made 
upon  my  mind  as  though  a  voice  had  said  to  me,  'thy  sins 
are  forgiven  thee;'  divine  light  flashed  all  around  me,  un- 
speakable joy  rose  in  my  soul.  I  arose  to  me  feet,  opened 
my  eyes,  and  it  seemed  as  if  I  was  in  heaven ;  the  trees,  the 
leaves  on  them,  everything  seemed  praising  God." 

Such  was  the  conversion  in  a  Presbyterian  camp-meet- 
ing of  this  remarkable  character  in  Western  Methodism. 
For  the  Holy  Ghost  submerges  denominational  channels 
wherever  His  overflow  occurs,  and  if  the  disciples  were  al- 
ways filled  with  the  Spirit  there  would  be  no  schism  in  the 
body ;  but  the  ecclesia,  or  church  of  God  would  be  one,  as 
Jesus  prayed  it  might  be. 

During  1801  and  1802  the  revival  fire  spread  over  Ten- 
nessee, the  Carolinas,  and  the  Northern  States,  In  Yale 


138 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


/ 


College  of  230  students,  182  were  converted.  Said  Dr. 
Gardiner  Spring,  ''From  the  year  1800  and  1825  there  was 
not  a  month  in  which  we  could  not  point  to  some  village, 
or  town,  or  seminary  and  say,  'Behold  what  God  hath 
wrought.' 

Yet  there  were  opposers.  In  Kentuckv  there  was  the 
anti-revival  party  called  Old  Side,  while  the  revival  party 
was  called  New  Side.  Says  Dr.  Spring,  ''I  marvel  not  a 
little  that,  after  all  our  eyes  have  seen,  and  our  ears  have 
heard,  there  should  be  a  good  many  among  us  who  look 
with  suspicion  upon  these  days  of  mercy,  and  who  do  not 
rather  hail  them  as  the  harbinger  of  that  predicted  period, 
when  'the  light  of  the  moon  shall  be  as  the  light  of  the  sun, 
and  the  light  of  the  sun  shall  be  seven  fold,  as  the  light  of 
seven  days/' 

In  Western  Pennsylvania,  after  several  sacramental 
meetings  of  great  blessing,  a  greater  concourse  of  people 
than  was  ever  seen  at  such  assemblies  gathered  at  Upper 
Buffalo  meeting  house,  in  the  congregation  of  Rev.  John 
Anderson.  There  came  about  ten  thousand.  Many  came 
in  wagons,  or  with  tents.  Fifteen  ministers  of  the  Synod 
of  Pittsburg  were  there.  Extraordinary  divine  power  at- 
tended the  services.  Preaching,  exhorting,  prayer  and 
praise  continued  alternately  throughout  Saturday  night  in 
the  meeting  house,  and  also  part  of  the  night  in  the  tent. 
The  Lord's  day  sav/  communion  service  in  the  house,  and 
preaching  services  in  the  tent  for  sinners.  This  nig'ht  was 
spent,  as  the  former  had  been,  only  more  were  visibly 
pierced  to  the  heart,  and  made  to  cry  out,  'what  shall  we 
do?"  Between  midnight  and  daylight,  after  a  short  inter- 
mission of  services,  an  exhortation  was  given  the  dis- 


OLD  TIME  REVIVALS. 


139 


tressed,  pointing  them  to  Christ  and  His  grace  to  meet 
their  needs. 

On  Monday  the  whole  assembly  was  addressed  by  one 
speaker.  After  the  benediction  many  were  smitten  down  in 
all  parts  of  the  congregation,  and  many  more  sat  silently 
weeping  over  their  sins  and  misery.  Rev.  McCurdy  deliv- 
ered a  most  powerful  exposition  of  the  second  Psalm  from 
a  wagon.  Said  Rev.  T.  Hunt,  who  was  with  him  in  the 
wagon,  '^it  was  like  the  close  o'f  a  battle,  w^hen  every  tenth 
man  was  wounded."  It  was  called  McCurdy's  War  Ser- 
mon, for  after  its  close  men  fell  on  every  side  as  if  shot. 

I  find  the  revival  fires  were  kindled  in  Upper  Kentucky 
in  1801-1802  when  McKendree  was  the  Methodist  presid- 
ing elder  in  the  West.  A  Presbyterian  minister,  McNa- 
mara,  heard  him  preach  on  the  extent  of  the  atonement, 
and  salvation  by  faith.  He  said  to  himself  "This  is  the 
doctrine  calculated  to  do  good."  So  he  began  to  preach 
on  these  themes,  and  the  mighty  power  of  God  came  down 
on  him  and  his  congregation.  Many  fell  to  the  floor, 
among  whom  was  McNamara.  Some  of  the  Methodist 
began  to  talk  to  those  in  distress :  but  some  of  the  Pres- 
byterian elders  still  on  their  feet  said,  "If  it  is  the  Lord's 
work,  let  the  Lord  do  his  own  work."  But  they  persisted, 
sa3ang,  "The  Lord  works  by  means."  As  there  was  some 
crowding  among  those  that  were  down,  one  said,  ''Don't 
tread  on  Mr.  McNam'ara."  He  heard  it,  and  cried  out,  'Yes, 
let  them  tread  on  me,  for  I  deserve  it.  Oh,  if  I  and  my 
congregations  had  been  carried  to  judgment  a  few  weeks 
ago  what  would  have  become  of  us  ?" 

Peter  Cartwright  wrote  of  this  revival:  'In  the  year 
1801,  in  the  upper  part  of  Kentucky,  at  a  memorable  place 
called  Cane  Ridge,  there  was  appointed  a  sacramental 


140 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION, 


meeting  by  some  Presbyterian  ministers,  at  which  meeting 
the  mighty  power  of  God  was  displayed  in  a  very  extraor- 
dinary manner.  Many  were  moved  to  tears,  and  bitter, 
loud  cryings  for  mercy.  The  meeting  was  protracted  for 
weeks.  Ministers  from  almost  all  denominations  flocked 
in  from  far  and  near.  The  services  were  kept  up  by  night 
and  by  day.  Thousands  heard  of  the  mighty  work,  and 
came  on  foot,  on  horseback,  in  carriages,  and  wagons.  It 
is  supposed  there  were  in  attendance,  at  times,  from  12,000 
to  25,000  people.  Hundreds  fell  under  the  mighty  power 
of  God,  as  if  slain  in  battle.  Stands  were  erected  in  the 
woods,  from  which  preachers  of  dififerent  churches  pro- 
claimed repentance  toward  God,  and  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.  It  was  estimated  by  eye-witnesses  that  from  1,000 
to  2,000  were  happily  and  powerfully  converted  to  God 
during  the  meeting.  It  was  not  unusual  for  from  three  to 
seven  preachers  to  be  addressing  the  listening  thousands 
at  one  time  from  different  stands.  The  heavenly  fire  spread 
in  almost  every  direction.  It  was  said  by  truthful  witness- 
es that  at  times  more  than  a  thousand  persons  broke  out 
into  loud  shoutings  all  at  once,  and  that  the  s'houts  could 
be  heard  for  miles  around." 

Since  P&ntecost,  says  a  writer,  "there  has  seldom  if 
ever  been  such  a  revival.  It  kindled  a  flame  that  spread  all 
over  Kentucky,  and  throughout  many  other  States."  Says 
one,  "I  have  seen  a  hundred  sinners  fall  as  dead  men  under 
one  sermon,  and  I  have  heard  more  than  five  hundred 
Christians  shouting  aloud  the  praises  of  God  at  one  time. 
I  venture  to  assert  thousands  were  awakened  and  con- 
verted at  these  camp-meetings,  where  Methodists  and 
Presbyterians  worked  together.  They  held  such  camp- 
meetings  every  year.    Sinners  mocked,  old  dry  profesisors 


OLD  TIME  REVIVALS. 


141 


opposed,  some  of  the  old  starched  preachers  preached 
against  these  exercises,  but  still  the  work  went  on,  and 
spread  in  almost  every  direction,  gathering  additional  fire, 
till  our  country  seemed  all  coming  to  God." 

FROM  AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  JAMES  B.  FINLEY. 
"GREAT  REVIVALS  IN  THE  WEST." 

In  the  spring  of  1800  one  of  the  most  astonishing  and 
powerful  revivals  occurred  that  Has  ever  been  known  in 
the  western  country.  This  was  also  the  most  extensive 
revival  that  perhaps  ever  was  witnessed  in  this  country. 
It  was  marked  by  some  peculiarities  which  had  not  been 
known  to  characterize  any  revival  in  former  times.  The 
nearest  approximation  to  it,  of  which  I  can  form  any  con- 
ception, was  the  revival  on  the  day  of  pentecost,  wheru 
thousands  were  awakened  and  converted  to  God  under  the 
most  exciting  circumstances. 

The  commencement  of  the  revival  is  traceable  to  the 
joint  labors  of  two  brothers  in  Cumberland  county,  Ken- 
tucky, one  of  whom  was  a  Presbyterian  and  the  other  a 
Methodist  preacher.  They  commenced  laboring  together, 
every  Sabbath  preaching,  exhorting,  and  praying  alter- 
nately. This  union  was  regarded  as  quite  singular,  and 
excited  the  curiosity  of  vast  multitudes,  who  came  to  the 
places  of  meeting  to  hear  two  men  preach  who  held  views 
in  theology  supposed  to  be  entirely  antagonistic.  Nothing 
was  discoverable  in  their  preaching  of  a  doctrinal  charac- 
ter, except  the  doctrine  of  man's  total  depravity  and  ruin 
by  sin,  and  his  recovery  therefrom  by  faith  in  Christ.  All 
were  exhorted  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come,  and  be  saved 
from  their  sins.  The  word  which  they  preached  was  at- 
tended with  the  power  of  God  to  the  hearts  of  listening 


142 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


thousands.  The  multitudes  who  flocked  from  all  parts  of 
the  country  to  hear  them,  became  so  vast  that  no  church 
would  hold  them,  and  they  were  obliged  to  resort  to  the 
fields  and  woods.  Every  vehicle  was  put  in  requisition; 
carriages,  wagons,  carts  and  sleds.  Many  came  on  horse- 
back, and  larger  crowds  still  came  on  foot. 

As  the  excitement  increased,  and  the  work  of  convic- 
tion and  conversion  continued,  several  brought  tents 
which  they  pitched  on  the  ground,  and  remained  day  and 
night  for  many  days.  The  reader  will  here  find  the  origin 
of  camp  meetings. 

In  the  spring  of  1801  Bishop  M'Kendree  was  appoint- 
ed presiding  elder  of  the  Kentucky  district ;  and  being  thus 
brought  in  contact  with  this  wonderful  work,  he  was  pre- 
pared to  form  a  correct  judgment  of  its  character.  That 
there  were  extravagances  that  constituted  no  part  of  relig- 
ion, he  was  prepared  to  admit,  but  that  it  was  all  a  wild, 
fanatical  delusion,  he  was  very  far  from  conceding.  Nay, 
he  believed  that  it  was  the  work  of  God's  Spirit  on  the 
hearts  of  the  people,  and  that  thousands  were  genuinely 
converted  to  God. 

These  meetings  began  to  follow  one  another  in  quick 
succession,  and  the  numbers  which  attended  were  almost 
incredible.  While  the  meetings  lasted,  crowds  were  to  be 
seen  in  all  directions,  passing  and  repassing  the  roads  and 
paths,  while  the  woods  seemed  to  be  alive  with  people. 
Whole  settlements  appeared  to  be  vacated,  and  only  here 
and  there  could  be  found  a  house  having  an  inhabitant. 
All  ages,  sexes,  and  conditions,  pressed  their  way  to  the 
camp  meeting.  At  these  meetings  the  Presbyterians  and 
Methodists  united.  They  were  held  at  different  places. 
On  the  22d  of  May,  1801,  one  was  held  at  Cabin  creek; 


\ 

\ 


OLD  TIME  REVIVALS. 


143 


the  next  was  held  at  Concord,  in  one  of  my  father's  old 
congregations;  the  next  was  at  Point  Pleasant,  and  the 
succeeding  one  at  Indian  creek,  in  Harrison  county.  At 
these  meetings  thousands  fell  under  the  power  of  God,  and 
cried  for  mercy.  The  scenes  which  successively  occurred 
at  these  meetings  were  awfully  sublime,  and  a  general  ter- 
ror seemed  to  have  pervaded  the  minds  of  all  people  within 
the  reach  of  their  influences. 

The  great  general  camp  meeting  was  held  at  Cane 
Ridge  meeting-house.  This  house  was  built  for  my  father, 
and  here  was  my  old  home.  I  have  elsewhere  described 
this  meeting,  or  rather,  attempted  to  do  so.  Language  is 
utterly  impuissant  to  convey  any  thing  like  an  adequate 
idea  of  the  sublimity  and  grandeur  of  the  scene.  Twenty 
thousand  persons  tossed  to  and  fro,  like  the  tumultuous 
waves  of  the  sea  in  a  storm,  or  swept  down  like  the  trees 
of  the  forest  under  the  blast  of  the  wild  tornado,  was  a 
sight  which  mine  own  eyes  witnessed,  but  which  neither 
my  pen  nor  tongue  can  describe. 

During  the  religious  exercises  within  the  encampment, 
all  manner  of  wickedness  was  going  on  without-  So  deep 
and  awful  is  man's  depravity,  that  he  will  sport  while  the 
very  fires  of  perdition  are  kindling  around  him.  Men, 
furious  with  the  effects  of  the  maddening  bowl,  would 
outrage  all  decency  by  their  conduct ;  and  some,  mounted 
on  horses,  would  ride  at  full  speed  among  the  people.  I 
saw  one,  who  seemed  to  be  a  leader  and  champion  of  the 
party,  on  a  large,  white  horse,  ride  furiously  into  the  pray- 
ing circle,  uttering  the  most  horrid  imprecations.  Sud- 
denly, as  if  smitten  by  lightning,  he  fell  from  his  horse. 
At  this  a  shout  went  up  from  the  rehgious  multitude,  as  if 
Lucifer  himself  had  fallen.    I  trembled,  for  I  fear«vi  God 


144 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION, 


had  killed  the  bold  and  daring  blasphemer.  He  exhibited 
no  signs  whatever  of  life;  his  limbs  were  rigid,  his  wrists 
pulseless,  and  his  breath  gone.  Several  of  his  comrades 
came  to  see  him,  but  they  did  not  gaze  long  till  the  power 
of  God  came  upon  them,  and  they  fell  like  men  slain  in 
battle.  I  was  much  alarmed,  but  I  had  a  great  desire  to 
see  the  issue..  I  watched  him  closely,  while  for  thirty 
hours  he  lay,  to  all  human  appearance,  dead.  During 
this  time  the  people  kept  up  singing  and  praying-  At  last 
he  exhibited  signs  of  life  but  they  were  fearful  spasms, 
which  seemed  as  if  he  were  in  a  convulsive  fit,  attended 
by  frightful  groans,  as  if  he  were  passing  through  the 
intensest  agony.  It  was  not  long,  however,  till  his  con- 
vulsions ceased,  and  springing  to  his  feet,  his  groans  were 
converted  into  loud  and  joyous  shouts  of  praise.  The 
dark,  fiend-like  scowl  which  overspread  his  features,  gave 
v/ay  to  a  happy  smile,  which  lighted  up  his  countenance. 

A  certain  Dr.  P.,  accompanied  by  a  lady  from  Lexing- 
ton, was  induced,  out  of  mere  curiosity,  to  attend  the 
meeting.  As  they  had  heard  much  about  the  involuntary 
jerkings  and  falling  which  attended  the  exercises,  they 
entered  into  an  agreement  between  themselves,  that 
should  either  of  them  be  thus  strangely  attacked  or  fall, 
the  other  was  to  stand  by  to  the  last.  It  was  not  long  till 
the  lady  was  brought  down  in  all  her  pride,  a  poor  sinner 
in  the  dust,  before  her  God.  The  Doctor,  agitated,  came 
up  and  felt  of  her  pulse;  but,  alas!  her  pulse  was  gone. 
At  this  he  turned  pale,  and  staggering  a  few  paces,  he 
fell  beneath  the  power  of  the  same  invisible  hand.  After 
remaining  for  some  time  in  this  state,  they  both  obtained 
pardon  and  peace  and  went  rejoicing  home.    They  both 


OLD  TIME  REVIVALS. 


14^ 


lived  and  died  happy  Christians.  Thousands  were  affected 
in  the  same  way. 

These  camp  meetings  continued  for  some  time,  the 
Presbyterians  and  Methodists  uniting  together  as  one  in 
the  army  of  the  Lord.  Some  ministers  had  serious 
doubts  concerning  the  character  of  the  work;  but  its 
genuineness  was  demonstrated  by  the  fruits.  Men  of  the 
most  depraved  hearts  and  vicious  habits  were  made  new 
creatures,  and  a  whole  life  of  virtue  subsequently  con- 
firmed the  conversion.  To  all  but  Methodists  the  work 
was  entirely  strange.  Some  of  the  peculiarities  had  been 
witnessed  before  by  the  preachers,  and  they  were  enabled 
to  carry  it  on. 

These  meetings  exhibited  nothing  to  the  spectator  un- 
acquainted with  them  but  a  scene  of  confusion,  such  as 
scarcely  could  be  put  into  human  language.  They  were 
generally  opened  with  a  sermon  or  exhortation,  at  the 
close  of  which  there  would  be  a  universal  cry  for  mercy, 
some  bursting  forth  in  loud  ejaculations  of  prayer  or 
thanksgiving  for  the  truth ;  some  breaking  forth  in  strong 
and  powerful  exhortations,  others  flying  to  their  careless 
friends  with  tears  of  compassion,  entreating  them  to  fly  to 
Christ  for  mercy ;  some,  struck  with  terror  and  conviction, 
hastening  through  the  crowd  to  escape,  or  pulling  away 
from  the  relations,  others  trembling,  weeping,  crying  for 
mercy;  some  falling  and  swooning  away,  till  every  ap- 
pearance of  life  was  gone  and  the  extremities  of  the  body 
assumed  the  coldness  of  death.  These  were  surrounded 
with  a  company  of  the  pious,  singing  melodious  songs 
adapted  to  the  time,  and  praying  for  their  conversion. 
But  there  were  others  collected  in  circles  round  this  vari- 
egated scene,  contending  for  and  against  the  work. 


146 


OLD  TIME2  RELIGION. 


Many  circumstances  transpired  that  are  worthy  of  note 
in  reference  to  this  work.  Children  were  often  made  the 
instruments  through  which  the  Lord  wrought.  At  one 
of  these  powerful  displays  of  Divine  power,  a  boy  about 
ten  years  old  broke  from  the  stand  in  time  of  preaching 
under  very  strong  impressions,  and  having  mounted  a 
log  at  some  distance,  and  raising  his  voice  in  a  most 
affecting  manner,  cried  out,  "On  the  last  day  of  the  feast 
Jesus  stood  and  cried.  If  any  man  thirst,  let  him  come 
unto  me  and  drink."  He  attracted  the  rriain  body  of  the 
congregation,  and,  with  streaming  eyes,  he  warned  the 
sinners  of  their  danger,  denouncing  their  doom,  if  they 
persevered  in  sin,  and  strongly  expressed  his  love  for  the 
salvation  of  their  souls,  and  the  desire  that  they  would 
turn  to  God  and  live.  By  this  time  the  press  was  so  greaT 
that  he  was  taken  up  by  two  men  and  held  above  the 
crowd.  He  spoke  for  nearly  an  hour  with  that  convincing 
eloquence  that  could  be  inspired  only  from  heaven ;  and 
when  exhausted,  and  language  failed  to  describe  the  feel- 
ings of  his  soul,  he  raised  his  handkerchief,  and  dropping 
it,  cried,  "Thus,  O  sinner,  will  you  drop  into  hell  unless 
you  forsake  your  sins  and  turn  to  God."  At  this  moment 
the  power  of  God  fell  upon  the  assembly,  and  sinners  fell 
as  men  slain  in  mighty  battle,  and  the  cries  for  mercy 
seemed  as  though  they  would  rend  the  heavens,  and  the 
work  spread  in  a  manner  which  human  language  can  not 
describe. 

We  will  now  try  to  give  something  in  reference  to  the 
manner  and  the  exercise  of  mind  of  those  who  were  the 
subjects  of  this  work.  Immediately  before  they  became 
totally  powerless,  they  were  sometimes  seized  with  a  gen- 
eral tremor,  and  often  uttered  several  piercing  shrieks  in 


OLD  TIME  REVIVALS. 


147 


the  moment  of  falling.  Men  and  women  never  fell  v/hen 
under  this  jerking  exercise  till  they  became  exhausted. 
Some  were  unable  to  stand,  and  yet  had  the  use  of  the^r 
hands  and  could  converse  with  companions.  Others  were 
unable  to  speak.  The  pulse  became  weak,  and  they  drew 
a  difficult  breath  about  once  a  minute.  In  many  instances 
they  became  cold.  Breathing,  pulsation,  and  all  signs  of 
life  forsook  them  for  hours ;  yet  I  never  heard  of  one  who 
died  in  this  condition,  and  I  have  conversed  with  persons 
who  have  laid  in  this  situation  for  many  hours,  and  they 
have  uniformly  testified  that  they  had  no  bodily  pain,  and 
that  they  had  the  entire  use  of  their  reason  and  powers 
of  mind.  From  this  it  appears  that  their  falling  was 
neither  common  fainting  nor  a  nervous  affection.  Indeed, 
this  strange  work  appears  to  have  taken  every  possible 
turn  to  baffle  the  conjectures  and  philosophizing  of  those 
who  were  unwilling  to  acknowledge  it  was  the  work  of 
God.  Persons  have  fallen  on  their  way  home  from  meet- 
ing, some  after  they  had  arrived  at  home,  others  pursuing 
their  common  business  on  their  farms,  and  others  when 
they  were  attending  to  family  or  secret  devotions.  Num- 
bers of  thoughtless,  careless  sinners  have  fallen  as  sud- 
denly as  if  struck  by  lightning.  Professed  infidels,  and 
other  vicious  characters,  have  been  arrested,  and  some- 
times at  the  very  moment  when  they  were  uttering  their 
blasphemies  against  God  and  the  work,  and  have,  like 
Saul,  declared  that  to  be  God's  work  which  they  so  ve- 
hemently persecuted. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


OLD  TIME  REVIVALS  UNDER  JAMES  CAUGHEY. 

During  the  seven  years  of  James  Caughey's  ministry  im  England  and  Ireland, 

nearly  twenty-two  thousand  persons  professed  conversion  under  his  immediate 
labors,  and  nearly  ten  thousand  entered  into  the  rest  of  full  salvation.  We 
quote  from  Showers  of  Blessing — one  of  several  works  reporting  that  wonderful 
revival  and  consisting  largely  of  selections  from  his  journal  kept  during  his 
ministry  in  the  cities  of  Macclesfield  and  Birmingham. 

And  now  here  I  am  in  Sheffield.  We  spent  only  a 
couple  of  days  in  London.  This  is  a  precious  spot  to 
me;  memorable,  as  being  the  scene  of  one  of  the  great- 
est victories  my  Lord  Jesus  ever  achieved  by  my  min- 
istry; where,  in  something  less  than  four  months,  up- 
wards of  three  thousand  persons  professed  to  obtain  the 
forgiveness  of  sins,  and  nearly  fifteen  hundred  sanctify- 
ing grace! 

I  do  realize  the  sentiment  of  that  Scottish  divine,  who 
said,  "Sweet  are  the  spots  where  Immanuel  has  ever 
shown  his  glorious  power  in  the  conviction  and  conver- 
sion of  sinners.  The  world  loves  to  muse  on  the  scenes 
where  battles  were  fought  and  victories  won.  Should 
not  we  love  the  spots  where  our  great  Captain  has  won 
his  amazing  victories?  Is  not  the  conversion  of  a  soul 
more  worthy  to  be  spoken  of  than  the  taking  of  Acre?" 
Let  Matt.  i6:  26,  set  its  seal  upon  the  sentiment,  and 
upon  my  heart  for  ever  and  ever.  Amen. 

A  year  has  passed  away  since  that  great  work  of  God, 
but  the  glory  and  power  of  God  have  not  passed  away. 
They  are  still  revealed  among  the  assemblies  of  his  peo- 
ple in  Sheffield ;— no  reaction.  Blessed  be  Jesus  for  that 
work  of  holiness  which  accompanied  the  revival!  Much 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


149 


of  the  permanence  is  traceable  to  that.  I  preached  twice 
yesterday  in  Brunswick  Chapel.  We  had  a  high  day  in 
the  courts  of  our  God;  seventy-six  souls  were  justified,  of 
whom  thirty-five  were  from  the  world;  thirty-three  per- 
sons besides,  obtained  purity  of  heart. — Matt.  5 :  8.  To- 
tal, one  hundred  and  nine ; — so  report  the  secretaries,  and 
they  registered  with  conscientious  care,  having  conversed 
individually  with  each  subject  of  divine  mercy  and  good- 
ness. All  glory  be  to  God  on  high,  and  on  the  earth 
peace  and  good  will.  Amen. 

Chesterfield,  Derbyshire,  October  27,  1845. — After  a 
few  days  I  became  restless  at  Norton,  and  longed  for 
action.  This  call  to  preach  is  an  intrusive  thing; — like 
the  conscience  of  Shakespeare's  hero,  it  "mutinies  in  a 
man's  bosom,  and  fills  one  full  of  obstacles."  The  re- 
flection of  what  might  have  been  done  in  rescuing  souls 
from  Satan,  while  one  has  been  loitering,  becomes  an- 
noying, and  weighs  heavy; — 'the  call  lies  heavy  on  the 
heart,  when  one  is  out  of  action.  But,  O,  how  light  and 
pleasant  amid  the  battle  for  Christ  and  souls!  Well,  I 
hastened  away  to  this  town  on  Saturday,  and  gave  bat- 
tle against  the  Devil  and  all  his  works,  yesterday.  The 
Lord  of  hosts  was  with  us  indeed,  "as  an  armed  man, 
and  a  mighty  one;"  to  kill  and  make  alive,  to  rend  and 
to  bind  up,  to  wound  and  to  heal.  There  were  forty- 
two  sinners  converted  from  the  world;  and  twenty-seven 
church-members  justified;  and  twenty-three  believers 
sought  and  found  full  salvation.  Total,  during  the  day, 
ninety-two  saved.  Of  these,  a  dozen  were  backsliders. 
Surely  the  fields  are  already  white  unto  the  harvest! 

A  pleasing  letter  from  the  Rev.  D.  Walton,  the  sup- 
erintendant  of  Wesleyan  Methodism  in  the  city  of  York. 
He  tells  me  the  revival  is  still  progressing,  and  that  no 


150 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


Sabbath  has  passed  since  I  left  without  souls  being  saved. 
That  was  a  noble  work  in  York,  during  those  three  or 
four  months  I  spent  in  that  city,  when  over  nine  hundred 
were  converted  from  the  world;  three  hundred  members 
of  the  Wesleyan  and  other  churches  were  saved,  and  be- 
tween seven  and  eight  hundred  behevers  were  sanctified. 
Memorable  months  to  me. 

Oct.  29. — Chesterfield  must  be  the  battle-ground  some 
time  longer.  Crowds  upon  crowds  listen  to  the  word ; 
and  scores  and  scores  are  slain  and  saved  by  it.  Tho 
scenes  are  becoming  sublimely  awful.  My  joy,  in  behold- 
ing these  displays  of  the  power  of  God,  is  mingled  with 
an  adoring  awe.  The  human  soul  is  a  fearful  thing,  when 
aroused  to  a  sense  of  its  danger.  To  behold  the  tears, 
and  hearken  to  the  bitter  cries  and  wails,  of  despairing 
sinners,  pierced  by  the  word  of  God,  and  torn  by  their 
own  consciences,  gives  one  some  idea  of  St.  Paul's  mean- 
ing, when  he  says,  "The  word  of  God  is  quick  and  power- 
ful, and  sharper  than  any  two-edged  sword,  piercing  to 
the  dividing  asunder  of  soul  and  spirit,  and  of  the  joints 
and  marrow,  and  is  a  discerner  of  the  thoughts  and  in- 
tents of  the  heart." — Heb.  4:  12.  Extraordinary  lan- 
guage that.  Such  is  that  living  and  powerful  word  when 
preached  with  the  Holy  Ghost  sent  down  from  heaven. 
It  then  penetrates  the  heart,  as  a  sword  does  the  body; 
reaching  the  inmost  recesses  of  the  mind,  as  the  sword 
the  marrow  of  the  bones,  and  conveys  life  or  death  to  him 
who  receives  it. 

Nov.  I. — The  work  of  God  here,  like  a  river,  deepens 
and  widens  as  it  proceeds,  and  with  increased  rapidity 
and  power.  There  seems  to  be  Httle  or  no  opposition  as 
yet.    It  is  as  if  it  had  stolen  a  march  on  Satan,  and  fallen 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


151 


Upon  his  kingdom  before  he  was  prepared  to  cope  with  it. 
The  people  have  been  taken  by  surprise,  and  neither 
sinners  nor  Satan  seem  to  know  how  to  resist  it. 
It  is  not  the  first  time  I  have  seen  it  thus ;  may  it  not  be 
the  last !  About  one  hundred  and  fifty  souls  converted 
since  Sabbath  -morning  last,  and  many  sanctified.  Now 
hath  the  word  of  the  Lord  free  course,  and  is  glorified  of 
all.  This  is  the  Lord's  doings,  and  marvellous  in  the  eyes 
of  all  his  people  hereabouts. 

The  Lord  did  great  things  among  us  yesterday  (Sab- 
bath) ;  ninety-seven  souls  found  mercy,  of  whom  fifty- 
seven  were  from  the  world;  an'd  twenty-six  professed  en- 
tire sanctification.  Of  those  justified,  seventeen  were 
backshders.  Yesterday  was  a  day  long  to  be  remembered 
in  Chesterfield;  such  as  has  not  been  seen  here  since  it 
was  a  town.  Hallelujah !  O,  what  amaze  and  sweet  sur- 
prise filled  my  soul!  Such  scenes  as  we  beheld  yesterday 
stem  really  necessary  to  make  one  realize  the  real  gran- 
d^ur  and  omnipotent  power  there  is  in  the  Gospel.  And 
(if  all  the  evidences  our  world  affords,  that  Jesus  Christ, 
the  Son  of  God,  lives  and  reigns  equal  with  the  Father 
over  the  universe,  these  scenes  of  power  and  mercy  seemed 
to  me  to  be  the  greatest.  To  tell  a  poor,  misei^able  sinner 
that  Jesus  Christ  hath  power  upon  earth  to  forgive  his 
sins ;  to  have  him  believe  this,  so  as  to  risk  his  all  for  time 
and  for  eternity  upon  it;  then  to  see  how  instantly  his 
sorrow  is  turned  into  joy,  his  darkness  into  day,  and  not 
in  one  or  two  cases  merely,  but  scores  and  scores  of  in- 
stances in  a  few  short  hours,  the  evidence  of  the  truth  of 
that  mighty  fact  becomes  overwhelming. 

"Law,  the  dictate  of  infinite  wisdom,  is  the  rule  by 
Avhich  man  is  to  act  towards  God ;  but  forgiveness  is  a  dis- 


152 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


pensation,  a  reason,  issuing  from  a  deeper  recess  of  his 
mysterious  nature,  and  by  which  he  chooses  to  act  to- 
wards us.  But  this  prerogative,  essentially  divine,  this 
high  and  incommunicable  right,  Jesus  exercised,  and  vin- 
dicated his  competence  to  do  so."  And  so  he  did  yester- 
day, blessed  be  his  name!  Nearly  one  hundred  sinners, 
saved  by  grace,  were  enabled  to  *'set  to  their  seal"  that 
Jesus  Christ  hath  power  upon  earth  to  forgive  sins.  Hal- 
lelujah to  God  and  the  Lamb! 

The  population  are  in  a  state  of  amaze.  This  amaz- 
ing work  of  God  has  evidently  taken  them  by  surprise. 
They  seem  as  if  stunned.  Sinners  know  not  what  to  say. 
Those  who  understand  the  Gospel  ask  for  no  explana- 
tions or  apologies,  and  they  get  none;  only  more  and 
more  of  the  same  great. truths  which  have  been  thunder- 
ing so  at  the  door  of  their  hearts,  followed  by  the  ani- 
mating cry  of 

"Behold,  behold  the  Lamb!" 

Nov.  5. — There  were  thirty-nine  saved  last  night.  A 
great  move  among  the  people.  The  cries  of  penitent 
sinners  like  the  wailings  of  hell;  only  full  of  the  hopes  of 
mercy,  —  a  thing  unknown  in  hell.  Sinners  fly  or  fall 
beneath  the  strange  power  which  so  mysteriously  assails 
their  feelings.  When  the  Gospel  becomes  "the  power  of 
God  unto  salvation,"  who  can  stand  before  it? 

Nov.  6. — Over  forty  found  mercy  last  night,  and  seven 
full  salvation. 

"The  heavens  are  big  with  rain." 

O,  what  a  "teeming  shower"  is  this !  and  such  multi- 
tudes,— thirsty  multitudes, — to  draw  its  life-giving  tor- 
rents ! 

What  a  pity  to  leave  such  a  work !    And  yet  my  en- 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


153 


gagements  elsewhere  must  sever  me  from  it  soon.  May 
these  new  converts  stand  fast  in  their  glorious  liberty. 
The  wicked  are  beginning  already  to  prophesy  their  down- 
fall, assigning  this,  that,  and  the  other  reason,  but  they 
forget  the  mighty  God.  They  have  not  studied  Rom.  14: 
4. — "Who  art  thou  that  judgest  another  man's  servant? 
to  his  own  master  he  standeth  or  falleth.  Yea,  he  shall 
be  holden  up;  for  God  is  able  to  make  him  stand."  Nor 
are  they  well  versed  upon  the  nature  of  the  foundations 
of  Christian  character; — that,  if  some  build  upon  the 
sand,  others  dig  deep,  and  lay  their  foundations  on  the 
Rock  of  Ages.  But  they  know  not  this  Rock,  nor  the 
guarantee  for  stability  a  conversion  has  which  is  founded 
upon  it,  no  matter  how  unfavorably  circumstanced  I 
Brother  Savage,  my  host,  is  a  practical  builder  and  archi- 
tect. He  told  me,  to-day,  that  many  years  ago  he  was 
employed  to  erect  a  large  mill,  upon  a  very  treacherous 
soil,  being  of  an  alluvium  nature,  upon  the  banks  of  a 
river,  subject  to  frequent  overflows,  one  of  which  oc- 
curred during  the  progress  of  the  work. 

The  mill  was  to  sustain  massive  and  powerful  ma- 
chinery; which,  after  immense  labor  and  care  with  the 
foundations,  was  completed,  all  but  the  great  chimney, 
which  was  the  greatest  difficulty,  in  the  estimation  of 
those  who  pretended  to  know  all  about  it.  It  was  in- 
tended to  be  thirty-five  yards  high,  and  it  was  asserted 
that  such  a  quicksand  bottom  could  never  sustain  such 
a  structure,  suffering  from  the  vibrations  of  machinery 
in  full  operation.  But,  said  Brother  S.,  took  care  to 
dig  deep,  in  search  of  a  foundation;  but,  to  my  sorrow, 
the  deeper  I  went,  the  softer  became  the  bottom.  But  I 
had  my  plans,  and  spared  no  pains,  deeply  aware  of  my 


154 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION, 


responsibility.  At  a  given  point  of  depth  I  lowered  great 
stones,  from  three  to  six  tons  weight,  pile  upon  pile  of 
them,  leaving  to  them  and  the  law  of  gravitation  to  find 
or  make  a  solid  bottom,  and  my  success  was  complete. 
Upon  these  I  built  my  chimney.  Many  were  the  specu- 
lations in  town,  that  the  chimney  would  not  stand,  when 
the  mill  went  into  operation.  But  the  fires  were  kindled, 
the  smoke  ascended  in  columns,  the  machinery  started, 
the  ground  shook,  but  it  had  no  effect  upon  any  part  oE 
the  structure.  All  stood  firm,  and  still  stands  firm;  but 
the  secret  of  the  stability  lay  in  the  foundations  of  the 
whole.  Once,  indeed,  the  chimney  was  struck  by  light- 
ning, but  it  only  knocked  a  few  bricks  off  the  top,  but 
did  not  overthrow  it.  The  prophecies  were  all  falsified, 
thanks  to  my  excellent  foundations !" 

And  it  is  upon  a  similar  principle  we  hope  for  the  sta- 
bility of  these  new  converts.  We  have  taken  much  pains 
with  their  foundations  in  a  sound  regeneration;  for,  that 
is  to  the  soul  what  a  good  and  sound  foundation  is  to  an 
edifice.  Outward  circumstances  are  the  data  from  which 
the  Sanballats  and  Tobiahs  draw  their  inferences  and 
conclusions;  Neh.  4:  I,  3; — a  drunken,  careless,  or  op- 
posing husband;  a  gay  and  trifling  wife;  an  ungodly 
father,  or  a  careless  mother;  an  irreligious,  or  worldly, 
or  fashionable  family,  and  wicked  neighbors,  and  past 
profligate  associates.  O,  what  mighty  arguments  are 
these  against  the  stability  of  those  but  newly  found  in 
Christ;  but  such  prophets  little  know  what  a  powerful 
pledge  of  future  faithfulness  and  stability  has  been  em- 
bedded in  their  genuine  conversion  and  regeneration! 

Thirteen  happy,  busy  days  have  I  spent  in  this  town, 
and  now  I  am  about  to  bid  it  farewell,  perhaps  forever. 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


155 


An  hour  or  two's  work  at  the  pen,  and  then  I  am  off  for 
Doncaster.  The  work  of  God  burst  forth  in  glory  and  in 
grandeur  the  first  Sabbath  day,  and  it  has  advanced  with 
amazing  swiftness  ever  since.  Thirteen  days  only,  and 
over  five  hundred  persons  have  professed  to  find  peace 
with  God,  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ! — three  hun- 
dred and  sixty-nine  of  whom  were  from  the  world,  and 
about  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  believers  were  entire- 
ly sanctified. — i  Thess.  4:  23,  24. 

The  subjects  of  this  work  of  grace  were  conversed 
with,  and  judiciously  advised ;  their  names  also,  and  places 
of  residence,  carefully  registered,  and  the  pathway  of 
pastors  and  leaders  accurately  mapped  out,  for  their  fu- 
ture visitations. 

O,  how  much  might  be  done  to  prevent  those  painful 
reactions  which  sometimes  follow  a  work  of  God  like  this, 
were  the  subjects  of  divine  mercy  properly  cared  for, 
looked  after,  sought  enit,  and  built  up  in  their  most  holy 
faith ! 

Many  of  these  trophies  of  mercy  were  from  the  neigh- 
borhoods around,  but  a  large  number  have  united  with 
the  Wesleyan  church. 

It  seems  a  pity  to  leave  such  a  work  as  this.  The 
town  is  moved  and  shaken;  and  multitudes  more  might 
be  converted  to  God.  But  my  appointments  are  out  be- 
fore me,  leading  me  on  to  Birmingham,  and  I  cannot  stay. 
But  the  work  need  not  stop, — shall  not,  I  hope.  To  God 
be  all  the  glory! 

I  spent  six  days  in  Doncaster; — busy  days  they  were, 
I  assure  you ; — days  of  glory  and  of  victory.  My  soul 
stood  in  a  sort  of  amaze  at  the  work, — its  swiftness, — its 
greatness.    The  whole  town  seemed  to  be  moved.  But 


156 


OLD  a?IME  RELIGION. 


SO  rapid  and  overwhelming  was  the  visitation,  sinners  had 
little  time  for  exchanging  thoughts  upon  the  subject,  and 
less  for  combination.  Clouds  of  mercy  gathered  over  the 
place  at  once,  and  burst  forth  and  came  down  in  "show- 
ers of  blessing"  upon  the  people. — Ezek.  34:  26.  "The 
Lord  was  there," — Ezek.  48:  35, — there  in  majesty  and 
in  power,  and  hardly  anything  was  found  that  could  stand 
before  Him  and  his  truth.  There  was  no  mistaking  of 
the  nature  and  reality  of  his  glorious  presence.  Angels 
and  disembodied  spirits  seemed  as  if  filling  all  the  air, — ^ 
as  if  rejoicing  in 

"The  growing  empire  of  their  King." 

But,  alas !  my  engagements  would  not  allow  a  longer 
stay.  Is  it  right  to  throw  out  ahead  of  me  appointments 
that  must  be  met,  whether  the  Providence  of  God  says 
"stay  here,"  or  not?  O,  how  hard  it  was  to  tear  myself 
away  from  such  a  work, — from  such  awakened  masses  of 
sinners,  which  may  possibly  relapse  into  the  former  state 
of  spiritual  death !  But  leave  them  I  must,  and  leave  them 
I  did. 

The  secretary,  at  Doncaster,  reports  the  number 
saved,  during  those  six  days,  thus: — three  hundred  and 
fifty-six  cases  of  justification,  and  one  hundred  and 
thirty-seven  souls  sanctified.  Total,  four  hundred  and 
ninety-three.  The  last  night  I  spent  there,  not  less  than 
one  hundred  and  fifty  souls  professed  to  find  pardon  or 
purity. 

York,  Nov.  17. — I  preached  yesterday  forenoon  in  the 
Centenary  Chapel  in  behalf  of  the  Wesleyan  Missions.  In 
the  afternoon,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cornuck  preached  a  stirring 
sermon  for  the  same  cause,  after  which  we  held  a  prayer- 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUCHEY. 


157 


meeting;  and  ten  souls  were  saved.  At  night,  in  the 
same  chapel,  to  nearly  three  thousand  people,  I  opened 
and  applied  that  awful  text,  spoken  by  the  supposed  ghost 
of  Samuel  the  prophet,  to  Saul,  King  of  Israel:  "Why 
hast  thou  disquieted  me  to  bring  me  up? — seeing  the  Lord 
is  departed  from  thee,  and  is  become  thine  enemy?" — 
I  Sam.  28:  15,  16.  Had  an  awful  time;  and  nineteen  were 
saved,  before  the  service  closed. 

Huddersfield,  Nov.  24. — Yesterday,  I  preached  twice 
here;  fifty  saved.  The  new  converts  of  the  great  revival, 
nine  or  ten  months  since,  are  doing  well,  generally, — 
standing  fast  in  glorious  liberty,  full  of  energy  and  ac- 
tivity. Surely  that  was  a  great  work! — over  eighteen 
hundred  souls  justified,  and  between  seven  and  eight  hun- 
dred sanctified  in,  five  months.  This  visit  seems  to  have 
fanned  the  flame  anew,  and  given  the  new  converts  a  fresh 
impulse  along  the  heavenly  road ! 

Macclesfield,  Dec.  3. — A  great  time  last  night.  The 
blows  of  truth  fell  thick  and  fast,  and  brought  many  to 
their  knees  with  a  cry  for  mercy.  Fifty  saved.  The 
critics  had  no  time  to  "stand  from  under;"  they  had  no 
warning,  and  came  down  with  the  rest.  It  is  not  best  to 
stand  too  much  upon  preliminaries ;  gives  them  too  much 
time  to  get  ready;  they  guess  what  is  coming,  and  the 
preacher,  like 

"Entellus,  wastes  his  forces  on  the  wind." 

That,  I  do  not  like,  and  so  fall  upon  them  suddenly.  We 
have  a  few  whimpers  about  "extravagance,"  etc.,  but  the 
next  onset  of  truth  levels  the  whimperers  to  the  ground, 
where  they  cry  outright  for  mercy! 

What  a  work  God  has  begun  here!  I  have  come 
among  a  prepared  people.    These  godly  ministers,  Har- 


158 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


ris  and  Clay,  have  prepared  the  way  of  the  Lord ;  and  so 
have  others  before  them.  I  love  to  preach  where  such 
devoted  men  as  David  Simpson,  and  others,  walked,  and 
toiled,  and  fought  the  great  battle  of  truth  for  God,  and 
sowed  the  seed  for  a  future  harvest,  and  sent  up  many 
prayers,  answers  to  which  are,  doubtless,  constantly  de- 
scending, to  their  great  joy,  where  they  are  enthroned  on 
high,  among  the  "spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect."  It 
seems  as  if  their  spirits  are  sometimes  present, — as  if  they 
hover  around  and  over  us,  observing  with  delight  the 
successive  answers  to  their  long-recorded  prayers ;  and 
as  if  they  helped  to  shout  the  harvest  home ! 

Birmingham,  Dec.  5. — Had  a  tender  parting  with  the 
friends  at  Macclesfield.  The  scene  was  indeed  amazing 
the  last  night;  the  glory  of  the  Lord  filled  his  temple. 
The  cries  of  the  wounded,  and  the  shouts  of  the  healed, 
were  heard  afar  oflf.  During  those  six  glorious  days  I 
spent  in  Macclesfield,  the  secretary  reported  some  two 
hundred  and  sixty  souls  justified,  and  one  hundred  and 
forty  sanctified.  Total,  four  hundred  souls  in  six  days! 
All  glory  be  to  Christ !  He  doeth  the  work.  "He  touches 
the  mountains,  and  they  smoke — the  hills,  and  they 
melt;"  and  earth  and  her  sons  tremble,  and  fall  before 
the  mighty  God  of  Jacob ! 

It  was  thought  proper  I  should  open  my  commission 
here  in  Newton  Row  Chapel.  I  have  preached  there  a 
few  times  with  some  success ;  feeling  very  small  and  hum- 
ble, land  attracting  but  little  notice.  What  of  that?  A 
stone  is  a  small  afifair,  compared  with  the  mass  of  water 
into  which  it  falls ;  nevertheless  how  wide  the  circles 
which  it  forms  in  the  water,  and  ever  widening!  Besides, 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


159 


the  higher  the  stone  ascends  heavenwards,  the  more  de- 
cided its  effect  in  forming  circles. 

The  exhortation  to  myself,  is.  Arise,  my  soul !  As- 
cend— clirfib — soar  heavenward  imto  God,  with  all  thy 
affections  and  powers,  that  the  force  of  thy  descent  up- 
on the  vast  mass  of  mind  around  thee  may  be  felt  in  cir- 
cling waves  of  sanctified  power  and  influence,  even  from 
center  to  circumference. 

There  is  a  danger,  I  am  aware,  of  one's  conscious 
insignificancy  and  unworthiness  and  weakness,  bringing 
on  a  timidity,  an  enfeebling  solitariness.  If  it  was  not 
able  in  past  years  to  detain  me  in  the  shade,  or  to  bind 
me  down  in  the  solitudes  of  an  inglorious  ease,  why  al- 
lov/  it  to  prostrate  me  now  on  the  rough  edge  of  one  of 
my  most  glorious  battles?  Down,  unbelief!  Be  exalted, 
faith  in  God! 

How  often  have  I  heard  the  spirit  of  those  words 
sounding  in  my  spiritual  ear,  Be  not  afraid,  but  speak, 
and  hold  not  thy  peace,  for  I  am  with  thee;  for  I  have 
much  people  in  this  city! — Acts  i8:  9.  And  the  raindrop 
is  speaking  to  me,  and  the  sunbeam,  that  mine  is  the 
more  glorious  mission, — ^as  heaven  exceeds  earth,  as 
eternity  outweighs  time,  as  the  soul  is  more  valuable  than 
the  body; — the  salvation  of  which  being  at  the  top  of  al^ 
salvation. 

I  have  two  sermons  on  Rom.  i :  16 —  "For  I  am  not 
ashamed  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  for  it  is  the  power  of 
God  unto  salvation,  to  every  one  that  believeth ;  to  the 
Jew  first,  and  also  to  the  Greek."  What !  timid  and  doubt- 
ful in  possession  of  such  a  power  as  this — after  penning 
such  sentiments  as  those  sermons  contain — ^after  such  de- 
ductions and  inferences?    Never.    If  they  are  mere  the- 


160 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


ory,  and  unfit  for  practical  purposes, — ^for  such  hoped- 
for  victorious  onslaughts  upon  the  ranks  of  wickedness, 
— why,  then,  "Away  with  them,"  saith  my  soul,  "and  take 
thy  pen  and  write  something  more  consistent  with  fact, 
practical  fact,  and  common  sense."  Nay,  my  soul!  but 
thou  knowest  the  contrary.  "What  I  have  written,  I. 
have  written,"  said  Pontius  Pilate,  regarding  the  inscrip- 
tion over  the  head  of  Jesus  on  the  cross.  So  say  I.  Let 
me  abide  by  it,  then,  nor  betray,  nor  crucify  the  Gospel, 
as  Pilate  did  its  divine  Author;  but  play  the  man  in  the 
management  of  this  Heaven-appointed  artillery,  push 
principles  to  the  utmost,  make  full  proof  of  thy  ministry, 
as  Paul  exhorted  Timothy.  *** 

But  I  see  a  struggle  before  me, — an  agony  of  conflict. 
But  "Victory  is  of  the  Lord!"  So  exclaimed  a  Jewish 
warrior  of  old,  on  the  eve  of  battle,  when,  with  a  hand- 
ful of  men,  he  was  about  to  cope  with  one  hundred  and 
twenty  thousand  men,  headed  by  thirty-two  elephants, 
and  horses  many  thousands,  and  hundreds  of  chariots  of 
war.  The  battle  commenced  with  the  thunder  shout  of 
the  few  against  the  many,  "Victory  is  of  the  Lord!"  and 
the  swords  flew  around  like  lightning,  nor  did  the  sun 
descend  under  the  arches  of  the  west,  before  the  Lord 
gave  the  few  the  victory.  "Victory  is  of  the  Lord!" 
That  is  my  motto. 

A  few  trophies  already.  But,  O,  this  skirmishing  is 
harder  than  the  conflict  of  the  decisive  battle!*** 

The  poor  are  gathering  around  me  in  considerable 
numbers,  and  seem  truly  in  earnest  to  enter  into  the  king 
dom  of  God.  The  rich  have  something  else  to  do  at  pres- 
ent.   They  have  not  yet  recognized  me  or  the  work  as 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


161 


worthy  of  any  particular  attention.  They  are  looking  in 
quite  a  different  direction. 

You  desire  to  know  what  are  our  "prospects"  here 
of  a  revival;  "the  difficulties  to  be  encountered;"  and 
"by  what  course  of  action"  we  propose  to  "succeed." 
Well,  my  friend,  I  could  write  much  upon  these  ques- 
tions, for  I  assure  you  my  heart  is  full.  But,  if  I  tell 
you  all  I  know,  and  all  I  fear,  and  all  I  feel,  you  will  sus- 
pect me  again  of  "looking  through  smoked  glass ;"  or, 
through  those  "spectacles"  which  you  say  the  devil  is 
"ever  ready  to  clap  upon  the  nose  of  the  melancholy,  or 
disheartened."  Well,  the  thing  is  not  among  the  impos  - 
sibles; but  I  am  not  naturally  given  to  melancholy,  nei 
ther  am  I  disheartened,  but  I  have  a  habit  of  looking 
difficulties  in  the  face;  and  have  you  any  objections  to 
that?  The  ancients,  you  remember,  used  to  say,  "One 
pair  of  eyes  is  worth  a  hundred  pair  of  spectacles."  It 
only  requires  one  to  use  his  own  eyes  to  see  how  strong- 
ly Satan  has  fortified  himself  in  Birmingham;  not,  indeed, 
by  the  civil  law,  as  in  Italy  or  even  in  France,  but  by  the 
laws  of  depravity,  his  most  faithful  ally. 

Nor  do  I  think  it  is  detrimental  to  faith,  altogether, 
to  have  as  full  view  as  can  be  obtained,  of  what  must  be 
encountered  in  order  to  success.  It  prompts  faith  to  re- 
ly upon  the  Holy  Ghost  alone,  and  to  cry  to  God  for 
those  weapons  of  war,  and  divine  artillery,  necessary  to 
insure  the  victory;  not  "tilting  with  straws,"  but  slashing 
right  and  left  with  "the  sword  of  the  Lord  and  of  Gide- 
on;" not  a  painted  sword,  but  the  real  sword;  not  a 
painted  fire,  but  the  real  fire  from  above; — it  is  that  that 
cuts  to  the  dividing  asunder  of  soul  and  spirit,  and  the 
joints  and  marrow  of  the  sinner,  wounding  the  heart,  and 


162 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


dividing  the  sinews  which  bind  him  to  his  sins;  and  this 
is  the  fire  that  warms  and  burns.  It  is  not  the  Aurora 
BoreaHs,  which  the  folks  in  the  Shetland  Islands  call  "the 
merry  dancers,"  which  neither  shatter  nor  strike  the 
proud,  gnarled,  defiant  oaks ;  but  the  real  living  lightning 
of  the  thunder  cloud! 

It  is  not  a  pomp  of  words  that  is  wanted  in  Birming- 
ham, I  assure  you,  but  action.  The  preacher  that  will 
prevail  in  Birmingham,  I  perceive,  needs  to  be  a  moving 
pillar  of  fire,  and  not  a  floating  iceberg ;  not  a  style  which 
one  denominates  "a  polished  mediocrity,"  as  free  from 
blemish  as  from  energy;  but  the  "rough  and  ready"  sort 
of  preaching,  the  out-of-the-way  style  (to  use  an  idea  of 
Rowland  Hill),  to  catch  those  who  are  out  of  the  way; 
"the  slap-dash"  kind  of  preaching,  as  one  named  it;  that 
style  which  Luther  said  made  the  best  preacher  for  the 
common  people,  "He  who  speaks  in  the  meanest,  lowest, 
humblest,  and  most  simple  style."  I  have  often  thought 
of  that ;  besides,  "the  common  people"  are  the  bulk  of  our 
hearers  in  every  place.  And  was  not  this  the  reason  that 
the  common  people  heard  our  Lord  gladly? — Mark  12: 
37;  because  he  preached  to  their  capacity  and  circum- 
stances. 

Ah,  it  is  not  such  preaching  as  "inflating  an  idea,  or 
frothing  a  sentiment,"  that  will  reach  the  heart,  although 
it  may  catch  the  head;  but  words  and  sentiments  like 
drawn  swords, — not  decorated,nor  muffled,  nor  encum- 
bered with  ornament,  but  the  naked  blade  of  truth;  then, 
no  objection  to  the  German  poet's  fancy: 
But  give  me  the  blade  of  shining  steel,  whether  its  hilt  be 
of  precious  gold,  or  vulgar  iron. 

J.    I  was  thinking,  to-day,  that  he  is  considered  the 


REVIVALS  UNDER  C  AUG  HEY. 


163 


best  general  in  a  campaign,  who  best  understands  the 
tactics  of  the  enemy, — his  strength,  plans,  fortifications, 
etc., — and  has  instructed  himself  well  as  to  the  geog- 
raphy of  the  country  through  which  he  must  pass,  where 
he  is.  likely  to  meet  the  foe;  and  who  has  the  tact  or 
genius  to  choose  the  best  and  most  advantageous  posi- 
tion for  his  troops.  Valor  will  serve  him  Httle,  if  lacking 
in  these,  and  such  like  qualificaitions.  Napoleon  Bona- 
parte spent  whole  nights,  compasses  in  hand,  'midst  maps, 
planning  a  single  campaign.  And  nobody  doubts  that 
it  is  to  that  fact,  as  well  as  to  the  valor  of  his  army,  that 
his  extraordinary  success  and  victories  may  be  ascribed. 

2.  I  was  thinking,  to-day,  of  Nehemiah  the  prophet, 
who,  on  arriving  at  Jerusalem,  with  a  heart  overflowing 
with  patriotism  and  religion,  resolved  to  revive  the  stones 
out  of  the  rubbish,  and  to  rebuild  the  walls  of  the  des- 
olated city  of  his  fathers.  He  says :  "I  came  to  Jerusa- 
lem, and  was  there  three  days ;  and  I  arose  in  the  night, 
I  and  some  few  men  with  me;  neither  told  I  any  man 
what  my  God  had  put  in  my  heart  to  do  at  Jerusalem." 
Secrecy  and  expedition.  These  were  the  life  of  his  un- 
dertaking. ''And  I  went  out  by  night  by  the  gate  of  the 
the  darkness  looked  difficulties  in  the  face ;  observed  the 
valley,  even  before  the  dragon-well,  and  to  the  dung- 
port,  and  viewed  the  walls  of  Jerusalem,  which  were 
broken  down,  and  the  gates  thereof  were  consumed  with 
fire.  Then  I  went  on  to  the  gate  of  the  fountain,"  etc., 
etc.  And  so  he  took  the  circuit  of  the  city,  and  through 
compass  of  the  walls,  and  their  dilapidated  condition,  in 
order  to  make  proper  provision  for  such  a  great  and  per- 
ilous undertaking;  for  there  were  many  enemies  without, 
and  untrustworthy  persons  within  Jerusalem. 


164 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


This  night-view  of  the  desolate  city,  rendered  matters 
to  Nehemiah  very  gloomy  and  discouraging,  doubtless. 
Nothing  the  worse  for  that.  The  desolation  and  the 
darkness  well  reminded  him  of  coming  difficulties  and 
perils, — magnified  them,  perhaps; — a  wholesome  ordeal 
to  his  faith; — served,  it  may  be,  to  make  his  trials  lighter 
when  they  came,  because  anticipated  and  prepared  for. 
The  more  discouraging  the  aspect  of  things,  the  more 
resolute  became  his  dependence  upon  the  God  of  his  fa- 
thers. 

3.  There  is  a  lesson  for  my  heart  in  all  this;  and 
something  to  excite  and  enlist  the  prayers  of  my  special 
friends  for  divine  aid.  We  have  spiritual  foes  to  encoun- 
ter, here  in  Birmingham,  more  malignant  than  those  who 
surrounded  Nehemiah: 

"Are  secret,  sworn,  invisible. 

With  hate  and  malice  inextingui^able," 

And  thousands  of  poor  sinners,  of  all  sorts,  under  their 
control.  *** 

I  have  said  nothing  about  theaters,  and  gambling 
houses;  nor  of  Sabbath-breaking,  and  profanity;  but 
enough  to  prove  to  you,  and  to  my  own  soul,  that  if  we 
are  to  have  a  great  revival  in  Birmingham,  the  efifort  to 
bring  it  about  will  be  no  "children's  play,"  but  the  efiforts 
of  men  in  downright  earnest  to  overturn  the  empire  of 
darkness. 

Men  are  wanting  like  those  of  old,  of  whom  it  was 
said,  they  turned  the  world  upside  down  (Acts  17 :  6) ; 
for  I  am  sure  it  is  wrong  side  up  in  Birmingham! 

The  weapons  of  our  warfare  must  be  real  weapons. 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


165 


our  artillery,  real  artillery, — mighty,  through  God,  to  ac- 
complish all  the  purposes  of  his  will. 

Paul,  who  preached  on  Mars  hill,  is  needed  here.  Paul 
is  dead ;  but  Jesus  Christ  lives  and  reigns.  He  offers  me 
his  strength;  bids  me  take  hold  of  it,  and  prevail,  and 
promises  to  stand  by  me.  I  have  the  same  Gospel  to 
preach  that  Paul  preached,  and  the  same  Holy  Spirit  to 
give  it  overcoming  power.  O,  to  be  armed  for  the  bat- 
tle, 

"With  stubborn  patience  as  with  triple  steel!" 

Ah,  poet!  I  like  St.  Paul's  advice  better,  "Take  unto 
you  the  whole  armor  of  God,  that  ye  may  be  able  to  with- 
stand in  the  evil  day;" — and  again,  in  the  same  chapter, 
"Put  on  the  whole  armor  of  God,  that  ye  may  be  able 
to  stand  against  the  wiles  of  the  devil," — the  Goliath  in 
the  held,  who  is  the  great  centre  and  rallying  point  of  all* 
the  evils  to  be  encountered. 

Let  me  improve  upon  that  hint  of  a  poet,  "Set  thyself 
about  it,  as  the  sea  about  the  earth,  lashing  at  it  day  and 
night,"  the  power  of  God  helping.  Rouse  thee,  O  my 
soul!  "like  to  a  spirit  in  its  tomb  at  rising,  rending  the 
stones,  and  crying  'Resurrection!'"  though  at  my  heels, 
as  Milton  hinted, 

"All  hell  should  rise  with  blackest  insurrection." 

He  who  exclaimed,  "What  a  map  of  hell  is  the  great- 
est part  of  the  earth !"  felt  something  as  I  do  at  this  crisis 
in  my  ministry. 

I  have  only  given  you,  and  myself,  a  view  of  the  dark- 
est side  of  the  picture.  There  is  a  bright  side  to  it;  and 
it  is  every  day  becoming  brighter.    No  day  passes  with- 


166 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


out  a  few  sinners  being  converted,  and  some  believers 
sanctified.  To  add  to  my  encouragement,  I  am  becom- 
ing acquainted  daily  with  many  godly  persons, — "the  ex- 
cellent of  the  earth," — full  of  life  and  zeal,  who  are  ready 
to  push  the  battle  to  the  gate,  and  to  shout  the  victory! 
Bless  thou  the  Lord,  O  my  soul !  The  gales  of  grace  are 
evidently  blowing  from  Calvary.  The  tide  of  corrupt  na- 
ture is  against  us;  but  the  wind  is  in  our  favor; — not  an 
unfrequent  occurrence  in  spiritual  seamanship. 

The  sailor  does  not  care  much  for  the  adverse  tide,  if 
the  wind  is  favorable,  and  there  is  plenty  of  it,  with  sea- 
room.  The  Holy  Spirit's  influences  are  frequently  com- 
pared to  wind,  in  the  Scriptures,  blowing  where  it  listeth. 
O,  for  more  of  that  divine  influence  to  stem  this  adverse 
tide,  even  a  gale! — and,  by  what  I  can  infer  from  the 
spirit  of  the  Wesleyan  ministry  here,  there  seems  every 
disposition  favorable  to  allowing  me  sea-room  plenty. 

To  one  who  objects  to  the  matter  and*  manner  of  the 
preacher : 

A  lady  in  Germany,  some  time  since,  remarked  to  one 
in  conversation,  "Damnation  is  a  joyless,  and  therefore 
an  incorrect  idea."  There  is  logic  for  you !  It  is  doubt- 
ful if  you  would  go  so  far  as  that;  but  you  consider  hell 
an  "unsuitable  motive  for  Christians."  Thus,  had  you 
and  the  German  lady  your  wills  and  tastes  gratified,  that 
little  "vulgar  monosyllable"  would  never  be  heard  in  the 
Christian  pulpit  at  all;  you  would  deny  it  to  the  Chris- 
tian ear,  and  she  would  prohibit  it  from  all  ears;  »o  you 
would  have  fine,  quiet  times  for  everybody. 

Let  us  dismiss  the  German's  notion,  and  deal  with 
yours  for  a  little  while.  Did  our  Lord  think  with  you, 
do  you  suppose  ?   Why,  then,  did  he  say  to  his  own  much- 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


167 


loved  disciples,  ''And  fear  not  them  which  kill  the  body, 
but  are  not  able  to  kill  the  soul:  but  rather  fear  him 
which  is  able  to  destroy  both  soul  and  body  in  hell?" — 
Matt,  id:  28.  Do  you  perceive  the  nature  of  the  motive? 
It  is  unmistakable.  Are  you  wiser  than  Christ?  Which 
is  the  safest  to  follow,  your  opinion,  or  Christ's  example? 
Dispute  with  my  Master  on  the  subject.  Do  you  ques- 
tion his  wisdom?  You  would  not  insinuate,  surely,  that 
you  understand  the  nature  and  wants  of  Christians  bet- 
ter than  He! 

Your  ideas  of  "fire  and  brimstone  preaching"  are  well 
enough,  had  nothing  else  been  preached ;  mark  that.  But 
Christ  was  preached,— Calvary  at  a  distance,  however, 
and  Sinai  and  Hell  nigh  at  hand.  But  Calvary  drew 
nearer  as  the  people  began  to  feel  they  had  need  of  every- 
thing which  the  Sufferer  endured  for  them  there.  Did 
you  not  notice  that? 

Are  you  not  aware  that  it  is  the  doctrine  of  Hell  that 
throws  a  grandeur  over  the  scenes  of  Calvary?  And  can 
you  be  ignorant  of  another  fact,  that  no  man  denying  a 
hell  ever  properly  appreciated  the  sufferings  endured  on 
Calvary?  Need  I  also  remind  you  that  it  is  not  the 
matches,  nor  the  brimstone,  that  sustains  a  fire  when 
kindled,  but  the  fuel ;  and  that  the  ''flinging  about  of  fire 
and  brimstone"  would  effect  nothing,  were  it  not  for  the 
fuel  which  the  consciences  of  the  people  supply?  Per- 
haps you  overlooked  these  things.  O,  my  dear  friend, 
try  to  understand  yourself,  and  the  great  doctrines  you 
profess  to  believe  and  venerate! 

My  plan  is,  first,  to  show  men  their  sins;  secondly, 
their  danger;  thirdly,  the  remedy.  To  throw  them  into 
conviction  for  sin  is  my  first  aim;  then  into  an  awful 


168 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


sense  of  peril;  then,  if  successful,  Christ  is  set  forth  cruci- 
fied for  them.  In  attempting  the  first,  I  show  the  nature 
and  extent  of  God's  law,  and  compare  character.  It  is 
the  straight  edge  that  shows  a  crooked  or  uneven  sur- 
face !  Then  comes  the  broad-axe  (o'f  truth),  and  the  chips 
fly;  and,  if  the  timber  had  sense,  it  might  cry  for  mercy! 
If  my  second  plan  cannot  succeed,  then  everlasting  burn- 
ings for  fruitless  trees  come  next. — Matt.  3 :  10.  And,  if 
nothing  will  do  but  that,  I  must  excursionize  through  per- 
dition for  sights  and  for  arguments ;  then,  to  use  the 
ideas  of  an  eminent  divine,  I  unbar  the  iron  gates  of  hell, 
and  lead  them,  through  solid  darkness,  to  the  worm  that 
never  dies,  and  to  the  fire  that  shall  never  be  quenched; 
and  to  show  him  those  apostate  angels  fast  bound  in 
eternal  chains ;  and  the  souls  of  wicked  men  overwhelmed 
with  torment  and  despair;  and  to  open  his  ears  to  hear 
their  cries,  which  never  ascend  but  to  return  again  in 
forlorn  echoes,  which  make  the  deep  itself  groan,  and 
which  add  to  the  horrors  of  perdition,  and  which  accent 
them  terribly. 

This  sort  of  infernal  panorama  is  as  varied  as  the 
vistas  and  glimpses  of  hell,  which  the  Scriptures  aflford 
us,  assisted  by  all  that  reason  and  conscience  are  well 
able  to  suggest. 

Close  to  this  hell,  I  usually  plant  the  cross,  with  this 
inscription :  "God  so  loved  the  world  as  to  give  his  only 
begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  him  should  not 
perish,  but  have  everlasting  life."  And  yet  another: 
"God  hath  not  appointed  us  to  wrath,  but  to  obtain  sal- 
vation, through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ."  And  yet  an- 
other: "Christ  is  the  end  of  the  law  for  righteousness,  to 
every  one  that  believeth."    And  yet  another  Scripture: 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


169 


"Believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  thou  shalt  bi^. 
saved;"  assuring  my  distressed  and  alarmed  hearers  that, 
what  was  sufficient  for  the  salvation  of  the  trembling  jail- 
er of  Philippi,  is  sufficient  to  save  the  best  and  the  worst 
among  all  the  trembling  multitude !  Then  follow  signs 
and  wonders  among  the  people.  Hallelujah!*** 

Glad  you  perceive  I  am  "no  copyist,"  although  you 
suspect  an  attentive  ear  to  "gossip,"  in  the  details  of  char- 
acter. Beware  of  unjust  suspicions.  Little  time  have  I 
had  for  gossip,  or  listening  to  tattlers,  since  my  arrival 
in  town.  But  I  walk  with  God,  and  have  a  tolerably  cor- 
rect idea  of  the  state  of  things.  It  is  the  Lord  who  teach- 
es my  hands  to  war  and  my  fingers  to  fight. 

Perhaps  you  have  never  thought  closely  upon  what 
God  said  to  the  prophet  Ezekiel :  "Thou  shalt  hear  the 
word  at  my  mouth,  and  warn  them  from  me."  There  is 
much  in  that  intimation,  is  there  not?  Information  from 
that  source,  as  to  the  delineation  of  human  character,  is 
more  reliable  than  the  sources  you  suspect.  Tell  me, 
may  not  our  God  speak  sometimes  now  in  the  ears  of  his 
chosen  ones?  Why  not?  Is  there  not  a  necessity  for  it, 
frequently?  If  so,  could  he  not  tell  me  more  about  the 
state  of  affairs,  than  all  the  tattlers  in  town  put  together? 
Ah,  my  friend,  take  care !  it  is  possible  to  be 

"Inspired  beyond  the  guess  of  folly." 

Human  nature  is  a  s-tudy, — a  life's  study.  There  are 
mysteries  in  its  operations,  as  in  its  structure.  I  study 
it  as  well  as  my  Bible.  What  I  learn  in  both,  I  teach; 
more,  indeed,  than  some  uneasy  consciences  are  willing 
to  bear, — yours,  for  instance.  *** 

St.  Paul  speaks  about  Christians,  that  they  chould  all 


170 


OLD  TIME  RELlGiOM. 


come  into  "the  unity  of  the  faith,  and  of  the  knowledge 
of  the  Son  of  God,  unto  a  perfect  man,  unto  the  measure 
of  the  stature  of  the  fulness  of  Christ." — Ephes.  4:  13. 
Dr.  Adam  Clarke  lamented  in  his  day  that  many  preach- 
ers, and  multitudes  of  professing  people,  were  studious 
to  find  out  how  many  imperfections  and  infidelities,  and 
how  much  inward  sinfulness,  is  consistent  with  a  safe 
state  in  religion;  and  that  how  few,  very  few,  were  bring- 
ing out  the  fair  Gospel  standard,  to  try  the  height  of  the 
members  of  the  church;  whether  they  were  fit  for  the 
heavenly  army ;  whether  their  stature  was  such  as  to  qual- 
ify them  for  the  ranks  of  the  church  militant;  that  the 
measure  of  the  stature  of  the  fulness  was  seldom  seen; 
but  the  measure  of  the  stature  of  Httleness,  dwarfishness, 
and  emptiness,  was  often  exhibited.  Alas!  the  lamenta- 
tion is  no  less  called  for  in  our  times!*** 

A  few  words  before  my  text.  And  let  those  whom  it 
may  concern,  listen  and  ponder. 

1.  It  is  written,  Judgment  must  begin  at  the  house  of 
God.  Where  Jesus  Christ  has  a  church,  it  is  either  in  a 
state  to  retard  or  promote  his  work  of  salvation  among 
sinners.    None,  I  fancy,  will  disagree  with  me  here. 

Now,  a  Christ-sent  preacher  will  look  well  to  this, 
and  will  very  soon  discover  the  retarding  or  promoting 
state  of  the  church.  He  must  address  himself  to  that 
state; — must  cope  with  it  in  the  former,  or  lead  it  on  to 
victory,  if  in  the  latter  state,  or  he  will  fail  in  his  duty, 
and  have  no  revival.  For  it  is  vain  to  expect  any  re- 
markable work  of  God  in  any  church,  so  long  as  its  spirit 
and  character  are  antagonistic  to  the  will  and  work  of 
Christ,  and  the  full  designs  of  the  Gospel. 

2,  But  there  are,  usually,  in  every  church,  some  liv- 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


171 


ing  members,  although  there  may  be  many  dead.  These 
he  should  recognize,  cherish,  encourage,  and  lead  forth 
to  do  battle  for  the  King  of  kings.  But  the  membership 
who  are  of  another  spirit,  should  have  a  different  treat- 
tfient; — caustic,  to  eat  away  "the  proud  flesh"  gathered 
upon  their  spiritual  wounds,  or  a  vigorous  application  of 
the  lancet  or  the  knife ;  or  an  emetic  which  will  eject  from 
the  foul  stomach  of  the  soul,  certain  satanic  deposits,  of  no 
very  agreeable  nature ; — and  let  the  spiritual  physician  be- 
ware of  a  bespattering!  But  if  he  lack  courage  for  these 
things,  he  is  certainly  not  the  man  for  the  times,  for  the 
place,  for  the  people.  He  had  better  retire,  that  God  may 
send  another,  of  a  stronger  heart,  and  more  unflinching 
purpose.    You  understand  me. 

3.  Judge  of  my  ministry  among  you,  then,  by  these 
simple,  common-sense  rules.  If  your  consciences  declare 
for  them,  then  reason  and  infer  accordingly.  Look  at 
our  efforts  through  this  glass.  It  is  transparent;  look 
through  it,  and  decide,  all  of  you,  whether  there  is  not  a 
cause, — whether  this  pointed  faithfulness  is,  as  some  in- 
sinuate, "contrary  to  the  meek  and  lowly  mind  that  was 
in  Christ."  But  is  it  so? — anything  at  variance  with  his 
example,  when  circumstances  demanded, — when,  as  an 
eminent  divine  remarks,  "He  walked  as  an  incarnate  con- 
science through  a  guilty  land;  and  its  people  trembled  at 
the  rebukes  of  his  sacred  presence;  when  the  voice  of 
Him,  who  was  *meek  and  lowly  in  heart,'  uttered  forth 
the  hoarse  and  exasperated  accents  of  divine  wrath,  in  a 
manner  more  terrible  than  the  recollections  of  Sinai.  But 
how  was  it  possible  that  even  mercy  itself  could  visit  a 
scene  like  that  which  he  traversed,  and  maintain  a  style 
of  unmingled  tenderness?   Accordingly,  there  were  oc- 


172 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


casions  when,  surveying  the  proud,  hypocritical,  and 
guilty  throngs  which  crowded  his  path,  he  clothed  him- 
self with  zeal  as  with  a  garment,  and,  with  a  consuming 
jealousy  for  the  insulted  majesty  of  God^ 'took  them  into 
his  lips,  and  sm.ote  them  with  the  sword  of  his  mouth/ 
Witness  the  cleansing  of  the  temple.  Intent  on  gain,  the 
Jews  had  converted  the  holy  place  into  a  scene  of  sacri- 
ligious  traffic;  they  had  turned  the  ancient  and  solemn 
Passover  itself  to  profit;  they  bartered  deep  in  the  blood 
of  human  souls;  they  worshipped  Mammon  in  his  Fa- 
ther's house.  But,  'suddenly  coming  to  his  temple,'  he 
flamed  around  its  hallowed  walls,  "like  a  refiner's  fire/ 
and,  with  the  tones  of  injured  and  insulted  Deity,  rained 
on  their  consciences  such  strokes  of  terrible  dismay,  that 
they  eagerly  sought  refuge  from  his  holy  indignation  in 
flight,  leaving  him  the  Lord  and  sole  possessor  of  the 
sanctuary."    What  think  you  of  scenes  like  these? 

Consider :  Do  you  suppose,  were  Christ  to  appear  sud- 
denly, and  walk  forth  visibly  among  his  churches  in  Bir- 
mingham, he  would  differ  much  from  his  old  style  of 
address  ? 

4.  Hearken  unto  me,  all  of  you ;  but,  O  remember, 
that  it  is  a  sinner  like  yourselves  who  thus  speaks  to  you, 
— though,  to  the  glory  of  his  grace,  I  must  acknowledge 
his  mercy  and  goodness,  in  styling  myself  a  sinner  saved 
by  grace,  and  laboring  with  all  my  strength  to  have  you 
saved  also.  Hearken!  Jesus  is  no  more  visibly  present. 
The  heavens  have  received  him  until  the  times  of  the  resti- 
tution of  all  things.  But  he  has  left  Truth  upon  the 
earth.  What  to  do? — to  stand  still  and  do  nothing?  Nay, 
verily.  What  then?  To  walk  forth  among  the  guilty 
throngs  of  earth,  like  himself,  as  an  incarnate  conscience. 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


173 


Is  that  all?  What,  and  not  enter  the  house  of  God?  Nay, 
nay!  But  it  enters  his  sacred  temple.  It  flames  around 
its  hallowed  walls,  "like  a  refiner's  fire vindicating,  in 
tones  of  terrible  power,  the  insulted  majesty  of  Him  who 
is  Lord  also  of  the  temple;  and  raining  upon  trembling 
consciences,  that  which  comes  down  with  the  force  and 
effectiveness  ol:  the  nimble  and  piercing  lightnings  of 
heaven.*** 

An  individual,  in  a  certain  place,  had  a  snug  little 
property,  and,  of  course,  had  good  credit  with  a  neighbor- 
ing merchant,  who  was  willing  to  let  him  have  all  he 
wanted,  on  credit.  But,  expecting  to  "foot  the  bill"  in- 
curred there,  he  was  prudent  ;  he  priced  the  articles,  ex- 
ercised his  judgment,  and  refused  much  that  was  offered. 
He  escaped  a  snare,  saved  himself  from  ruin,  and  re- 
mained an  honest  man.  Hearken !  Give  this  a  similar  ap- 
plication as  the  martyr  and  the  pen :  thus  thou  shalt  have 
a  glimpse,  once  more,  of  the  things  which  belong  unto 
thy  peace.    God  help  thee! 

But  hearken  again, — and  let  that  thoughtless  one, 
over  yonder,  give  ear.  Not  far  from  this  man  who  had 
the  snug  little  property,  there  lived  something  of  a  rogue, 
who  was  not  encumbered  with  property,  and  boasted  of 
it;  and  if  he  had  not  cash  in  his  purse,  he  had  always 
brass  enough  in  his  face;  nor  did  he  ever  once  think 
that  time  and  personal  liberty  were  property.  But,  to 
be  short,  he  ran  in  debt  wherever  he  could,  for  he  never 
intended  to  meet  the  bill;  and,  finding  himself  "sorely 
cornered,"  he  enlarged  his  steps  by  a  sort  of  near  cut 
to  fortune;  was  tried  for  a  swindling  transaction,  and, 
in  a  disagreeable  cell,  he  learned  to  calculate  consequen- 
ces,— "expenses,"  to  use  Burns'  idea. 


174 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


Eternity  has  its  reckonings  also.  Your  soul  is  your 
property ;  it  would  bankrupt  the  world  to  buy  it  without  a 
swindle.  The  Devil  is  the  neighboring  merchant.  His 
goods  and  his  books  are  open  for  you; — excellent  credit 
with  him.  You  may  "run  tick,"  "buy  upon  tick/'  to  any 
amount ;  for  he  has  his  eye  upon  your  soul,  nothing  short 
of  your  soul.  He  never  trades  for  less, — so  much  for  the 
soul  in  every  temptation,  otherwise  no  trade.  It  is  the 
soul  he  wants;  all  else  are  but  trifles.  Arch-fiend! 

Now,  if  your  eyes  are  open  to  the  things  which  belong 
to  your  peace,  you  will  refuse  to  "buy  on  tick"  from  Satan, 
and  so  escape  the  snare,  and  save  your  soul  from  perdition. 

[  You  will  become  "the  prudent  man,"  mentioned  by  Solo- 
monT^  who  foresaw  the  evil  and  did  hide  himself,  while 

'  the ,  "simple"  sinner,  like  him  over  yonder,  "passed  on" 
and  was  punished. — Prov.  22:  3.  Simple  enough,  to  be- 
lieve the  Devil  and  his  own  heart, — that  he  might  resist 
the  truth,  repel  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  "run  tick"  with  hell, 
without  consequence.  But,  as  the  Devil  foresaw  that 
which  the  simple  one  refused  to  foresee,  Death  made  an 
arrest,  closed  accounts,  drew  aside  the  veil  of  eternity, 
and  posted  him  ofif  without  ceremony  to  "foot  his  bill,"  to 
pay  the  reckoning  in  eternity, — "Damnation  of  expenses." 
O,  Lord,  open  the  eyes  of  that  young  man !  Reveal  unto 
him  the  things  which  belong  unto  his  peace.  Thy  servant 
is  trying  to  do  so,  but  O  give  my  humble  illustrations  of 
this  truth  both  significancy  and  conscience-awakening 
power ! 

Behold,  then,  in  these  respects  the  things  which  belong 
unto  thy  peace;  nor  think,  for  a  moment,  thou  canst  "sin 
cheap,  without  paying  dear."   Alas,  alas !   The  archangel 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


175 


Gabriel  would  fail  in  computing  the  eternal  expenses,  the 
eternity  of  costs,  which  sin  incurs ! 

Nay!  stay,  poor  sinner,  and  hear  me  out!  But  if  you 
will  not,  there  are  scores  and  hundreds  of  sinners  present, 
who  will.  lyook  out  for  Death,  when  you  get  out  of  doors, 
for  he  is  on  full  march  to  meet  you;  and  the  Devil,  who, 
according  to  St.  Paul,  has  "the  power  of  Death"  (Heb. 
2:  14),  accompanies  him, — that  old  merchant,  that  old 
broker  in  souls,  who  has  been  jewing  you  out  of  your  soul, 
— he  is  at  Death's  heels,  and,  as  St.  John  tells  us.  Hell 
following  with  him. — Rev.  6:  8.  O,  woe  be  to  you,  if 
you  fall  into  such  hands!  *  *  *  *  That  is  right; 
stay  and  hear  me  out.  A  wise  man  changes  his  mind,  says 
the  old  proverb;  a  fool  never!  Now,  then,  hear  me  out; 
and  may  your  knees  reach  the  floor  before  you  get  out, 
and  with  your  voice  cry  for  mercy !  It  is  coming  to  that, 
I  think ! 

Well,  thank  God,  sinner,  if  it  does  come  to  that, — if 
matters  with  you  come  to  that  extremity, — I  can  tell  you, 
beforehand,  it  will  not  be  in  vain.  No,  indeed!  When 
has  it  ever  been  in  vain?  How  can  it  be  if  Jesus  is  wait- 
ing— ^and  he  is — to  receive  you  at  his  feet,  a  weeping 
penitent,  as  you  are?  I  tell  you,  plainly,  it  is  coming  to 
that.  You  cannot  remain  so  long!  What  is  that  which  so 
shakes  you,  body  and  soul?  What  but  the  eternal  power 
of  God  ?  What  is  that  which  has  driven  all  the  blood  from 
your  face,  and  unbidden  tears  to  your  eyes?  O,  what  but 
the  power  of  Him,  whose  blood  flowed  so  freely  on  Cal- 
vary for  the  sins  of  your  soul !  Whence  that  deep  distress 
which  almost  forces  the  cry?  "God  be  merciful  to  me  a 
sinner?"  O,  whence,  but  from  a  portion  of  that  fire,  per- 
haps, which  forced  Jesus  to  his  knees  in  the  garden;  which 


176 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


prostrated  him  upon  the  cold  ground  with  a  groan  of 
agony, — so  intense  as  to  make  him  sweat  blood,  and  plenty 
of  it, — the  crimson  dew  at  every  pore  increasing  until  it 
fell  in  great  drops  to  the  ground ;  it  set  all  his  body  a  weep- 
ing tears  of  blood  for  you.  O,  shrink  not,  then,  if  it  be  so, 
that  a  portion  of  that  fire  consumes  upon  your  conscience ; 
that  a  cry,  which  God  will  not  refuse  to  hear,  may  rise  from 
your  soul  to  heaven  !  That  tear  again ; — never  mind  it ! 
it  is  like  John  the  Baptist,  a  forerunner  of 

"The  tears  that  tell  your  sins  forgiven!" 

Those  quick  breathings  and  sighs  and  sobs,  so  rife  among 
the  unsaved  and  the  saved  in  this  assembly ;  what  are  they 
but  the  forerunner  of  sighs  that  shall  waft  our  souls  to 
heaven;  and  shouts  of  praise  and  adoration  to  him  who 
once  rode  in  triumph,  'midst  hosannas,  over  the  hills  of 
Jerusalem,  who  hath  turned  our  captivity,  and  sent  salva- 
tion? 

5.  A  few  words,  in  conclusion,  to  "The  hardened  peni- 
tent," and  to  ''One  who  mourns  because  he  cannot  mourn," 
and  to  "A  despairing  sinner." 

Difficult  cases  these,  I  confess.  Indeed,  there  seems  to 
be  a  tincture  of  despair  in  all  three!  Impossible,  or  im- 
possibility, seems  a  hobby  word  with  their  despondency. 
One  says,  "The  impossibility  of  my  salvation  lies  not  so 
much  in  my  impenitence,  as  my  hardness;  the  Spirit,  I 
fear,  has  been  entirely  grieved  away."  A  second  says,  "I 
know  Christ  has  pronounced  the  mourner  blest ;  but  am  I 
a  mourner?  Stupid  as  an  ox — it  cannot  be;  it  is  not  pos- 
sible, on  Gospel  principles,  I  can  be  blessed  or  saved — no." 
And,  says  a  third,  "His  mercy  is  clean  gone  forever;  he 
will  be  gracious  to  me  no  more ;  I  can  neither  reach  mercy. 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


17? 


nor  can  mercy  reach  me ;  there  is  an  impossibility  in  the 
way  of  my  being  saved." — There !  what  a  trio  of  mistaken 
souls  we  have  here !  And,  if  it  be  a  fact  that  they  rep- 
resent numbers  of  each  class,  they  present  a  serious  bar- 
rier against  the  progress  of  this  work. 

Hearken  unto  me,  all  of  you,  and  these  impossibles 
shall  disappear  before  the  light  of  truth,  as  darkness  before 
the  light  of  day! — shall  vanish,  to  use  the  idea  of  a  poet, 
"like  a  ghost  before  the  sun;  or,  like  a  doubt  before  the 
truth  of  God!"  They  are  even  now  preparing  to  vanish 
away,  and  may  they  never  return. 

Impossible ! — but  who  taught  you  that  naughty  word  ? 
Not  Jesus  Christ,  I  am  sure  of  that;  for  he  says,  "All 
things  are  possible  to  him  that  believeth."  If  you  can 
but  believe,  impossibility  shall  vanish  away,  like  a  ghost 
before  the  sun ! 

Satan  has  often  tried  to  introduce  that  hard,  unbecom- 
ing word  among  my  thoughts,  when  conflicting  with  error, 
hardness,  and  unbelief,  in  efforts  for  a  revival  of  the  work 
of  God.  But  a  long  time  has  passed  away  since  my  Lord 
enabled  me  to  give  it  a  bill  of  divorce !  When  this  unbelief 
would  seek  to  reinstate  itself  into  my  revival  vocabulary, 
or  creed,  my  soul  takes  the  alarm,  and  raises  a  cry  to  God 
against  it :  "Out  with  it !" — and  out  it  goes,  like  Legion; 
its  brother  of  old.  But  I  do  not  always  effect  an  insurance 
that  it  will  not  efifect  an  entrance  into  some  poor  sinners 
around  me,  as  Legion  into  the  herd  of  old,  and  set  them  a 
galloping  down  the  steps  of  sin  into  the  sea  of  perdition. 
But,  having  got  rid  of  it  myself,  my  soul  girds  itself  with 
strength,  and  rushes  to  the  rescue ; — succeeds  often  in  driv- 
ing the  fiend  back  to  his  own  hill,  leaving  the  poor  sinners 
behind  as  the  trophies  of  salvation!    Jesus  let  the  herd 


178 


OLD  TIME  toLlGlON. 


of  swine  and  the  devils  go  to  the  bottom  of  the  lake  to- 
gether, without  a  countermand!  But  his  hand  is  ever 
ready  to  rescue  the  souls  for  which  he  bled  and  died. 

Impossible !  I  have  banished  it  from  my  door ! — sorry 
it  has  stationed  itself  before  yours; — sorrier  still  that  it 
has  effected  a  lodgment  within.  But  it  may  be  dislodged 
if  you  are  willing  to  have  it  so.  Mark  that ! — if  you  are 
willing  to  have  it  so!  Because,  if  you  are  in  league  with 
it,  then  it  will  bid  me  defiance. 

Impossible !  naughty  word !  There  are  more  devils  in  it 
than  syllables !  Impossible !  banish  it  to  the  hell  from 
whence  it  came.  It  belongs  to  hell.  It  is  the  creed  of  the 
damned.  What  have  living  men  to  do  with  it, — men  who 
desire  salvation?  Let  the  damned  have  it  all  to  them- 
selves. It  belongs  to  them.  It  is  their  right,  after  a  life 
of  sin  and  unbelief.  It  belongs  to  them, — it  cannot  be 
otherwise  with  them, — for 

"In  that  lone  land  of  deep  despair 

No  Sabbath's  heavenly  light  shall  rise, — 
No  God  regard  their  bitter  prayer, 
No  Saviour  call  them  to  the  skies." 

Not  so  in  your  case,  O  ye  prisoners  of  the  Lord !  You 
are  in  the  land  of  hope,  surrounded  by  praying  people,  and, 
better  than  all, — 

"Now  God  invites;  how  blest  the  day! 

How  sweet  the  Gospel's  charming  sound  J 
Come,  sinners,  haste,  O  haste  away. 

While  yet  a  pardoning  God  is  found  I " 

Impossible  !  Away  with  it !  It  destroys  hope ! — it  kills 
endeavor  both  in  minister  and  mourner.  Away  with  it 
then! — Crucify  it!  crucify  it!  for  it  crucified  your  Lord 
and  mine.  "Impossible!"  cried  the  Jews, — "such  a  per- 
son as  this  cannot  be  our  promised  Messiah.   Away  with 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


179 


him!  away  with  him!  Crucify  him!  crucify  him!"  Ah, 
that  cruel,  that  obstinate  word  killed  the  Prince  of  life, 
the  Lord  of  glory!  and  it  will  destroy  the  whole  of  you, 
unless  you  drive  it  from  you.  *'Away  with  it !  away  with 
it!  Crucify  it!  crucify  it!"  It  will  not  offend  your  Lord 
and  mine,  if  we  seize  upon  this  old  cannon  of  the  enemy, 
and  turn  it  against  himself, — discharge  it  in  the  face  of 
this  Impossible,  whose  name  is  Legion ! 

Away  with  it,  and  turn  your  ear  to  St.  Paul.  Now 
hearken !  "Wherefore  he  is  able  to  save  them  to  the  utter- 
most that  come  unto  God  by  him,  seeing  he  ever  liveth  to 
make  intercession  for  them." — Heb.  7 :  25.  Thank  God  for 
that  word  "Uttermost !"  It  is  the  Heaven-appointed  antag- 
onist of  old  Impossible!  Impossible  is,  indeed,  the  great 
Goliath,  that  has  made  your  hearts,  like  those  of  the  men 
of  Israel  in  the  plains  of  Elah  of  old,  "dismayed  and 
greatly  afraid."  But  this  "Uttermost"  is  the  stripling 
David,  that  has  rescued  many  a  lamb  out  of  the  mouth  of 
the  lion  and  the  bear; — this  David  has  come  into  the 
camp,  and  Impossible,  like  Goliath,  stalks  out  with  its  chal- 
lenge, defying  the  mercy  and  power  of  God,  and  despising 
all  his  promises  in  Jesus.  Uttermost,  with  its  sling,  goes 
forth  to  meet  this  giant,  and,  pausing  at  a  brook  I  will  tell 
you  of,  stoops  down  and  picks  up  five  smooth  stones.  The 
brook  is  found  in  Heb.  6 :  17 — 20,  and  warbles  along  thus, 
telling  its  own  sweet  story,  as  I  have  heard  many  a  mean- 
dering brook,  as  if  relating  its  history  to  the  shining  peb- 
bles in  its  channel.  Hearken !  "Wherein  God,  wilHng 
more  abundantly  to  show  unto  the  heirs  of  promise  the  im- 
mutability of  his  counsel,  confirmed  it  by  an  oath ;  that  by 
two  immutable  things,  in  which  it  was  impossible  for  God 
to  lie,  we  might  have  a  strong  consolation,  who  have  fled 


180 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION, 


for  refuge  to  lay  hold  on  the  hope  set  before  us :  which 
hope  we  have  as  an  anchor  to  the  soul,  both  sure  and 
steadfast,  and  which  entereth  into  that  within  the  veil; 
whither  the  forerunner  is  for  us  entered,  even  Jesus,  made 
an  high  priest  forever  after  the  order  of  Melchisedec." 
There !  that  is  the  brook,  pure,  clear,  and  sweet  as  the  crys- 
tal stream,  which  John  saw  welling  from  under  the  throne 
of  God  and  of  the  Lamb. — Rev.  22:  i.  Let  our  hero.  Ut- 
termost, reach  down  into  this  stream,  and  four  out  of  the 
five  stones  are  found,  before  which  Satan's  Impossible  can- 
not stand. 

1.  The  first  stone  is  named  Immutability; — "the  im- 
mutability of  his  counsel;" — the  composition  of  which  is, 
"two  immutable  things," — the  promise  and  the  oath  of 
God.  Shout,  ye  sons  of  the  morning!  You  men  of  Is- 
rael, on  this  our  Elah's  mountain  side,  shout!  Away  with 
your  fears,  ye  despairing  ones ! — here  is  a  stone  of  victory, 
— like  the  prophetic  stone  of  the  prophet  Zechariah,  which 
had  "seven  eyes,"  to  see  the  truth, — to  see  error, — to  see 
the  enemy  on  all  sides,  ready  for  the  advantage  in  every 
difficulty,  in  every  emergency.  This  immutability  against 
any  impossibility  Satan  can  bring  into  the  field,  any  day 
the  Lord  our  God  has  made  !  It  is  as  firm  and  unchangeable 
as  the  hills ;  but  the  Devil's  impossibles  in  matters  of  salva- 
tion are  changeable  as  the  moon, — losing  their  imp-like 
heads,  when  Jesus  enters  the  field  with  his  "save-to-the- 
uttermost,"  quicker  than  those  changing  profiles  we  saw 
the  other  day  among  the  drifting  clouds  of  heaven! 

2.  Look  for  the  second  stone,  which  bears  the  inscrip- 
tion, "Impossible;" — the  whole  composition  of  which  is, 
"it  was  impossible  for  God  to  lie!"  And  now  let  Satan 
and  all  his  impossibles  fall  back  before  this  stone,  the  con- 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


181 


stitution  of  which  is,  the  veracity  of  God !  The  mountain 
adamant  is  not  firmer  in  texture  than  this !  Ay,  this  im- 
possible against  all  the  impossibles  hell  has  ever  issued! 

3.  The  third  stone  for  the  sHng  of  God's  uttermost,  we 
may  call  Consolation ;  the  quality  of  which  is  "strong  con- 
solation." What  a  heart-comforting,  heart-enlivening, 
heart-strengthening  quality  is  this  !  It  inspires  confidence ; 
it  excludes  doubt;  it  affords  the  most  powerful  argument 
to  believe.  But  what  a  heart-breaker  to  that  satanic  impos- 
sibility ! 

4.  The  fourth  stone  is  Hope; — "lay  hold  on  the  hope 
set  before  us," — the  hope  of  present  and  eternal  salva- 
tion, which  the  promise  and  oath  of  God  secure  to  those 
who  have  fled  believingly  to  Christ  for  refuge.  O,  what 
a  stone  of  succor  is  this ! — large  enough  to  be  the  death 
of  that  fearful  Goliath,  Impossible,  and  its  monument  be- 
side. Large  enough,  at  all  events,  to  be  as  an  anchor  to 
the  soul,  both  sure  and  steadfast, — sure  and  safe,  O  ye 
despairing  sinners !  for  its  anchor-hold  is  fast  in  the  prom- 
ise and  the  oath  of  God,  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord. 

5.  But  where  shall  we  find  the  fifth  stone?  Close  by, 
in  a  tributary  stream,  which  comes  purling  along  from 
Romans  5:1.  Behold,  there  it  is,  shining  like  a  diamond! 
Faith  is  its  inscription ;  its  substance  is,  "Therefore,  being 
justified  by  faith,  we  have  peace  with  God,  through  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ."  Hearken,  O  ye  despairing  ones!  for 
these  are  the  things  which  belong  to  your  peace.  Heark- 
en, did  I  say?  nay,  but  follow  on  after  the  Lord's  Save- 
to-the-uttermost,  for  by  this  stone  shall  victory  be  given. 
Impossibility  shall  fall  before  it,  as  Goliath  of  old  before 
that  Heaven-directed  stone  from  the  sling  of  David.  Be- 
hold, it  is  to  be  "justified  by  faith!"  and  if  by  faith,  sal- 


182 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


vation  is  no  more  of  works;  and  if  by  faith,  why  not  now? 
Now,  then,  is  the  hour,  the  moment  of  salvation.  Where 
is  that  GoHath  Impossibility?  Fallen! — has  measured 
his  length  on  Immanuel's  ground!  Now,  then,  Save-to- 
the  uttermost,  mount  his  carcass,  and  off  with  that  imp- 
like head  I  Here  is  a  sword  to  do  it !  "The  things  which 
are  impossible  to  men,  are  possible  to  God." — Luke  i8: 
27.  And  there  is  a  spear, — raise  the  severed  head  on  t)hat 
before  all  Israel ; — this  is  the  spear :  "All  things  are  pos- 
sible to  him  that  believeth," — Mark  9:  23.  Shout,  ye 
men  of  Israel,  shout !  Rejoice,  ye  despairing  sinners,  re- 
joice!  Arise!  pursue  the  Philistine  host  of  doubts  and 
fears,  until  not  one  survives.  They  are  routed  and  fly  be- 
fore you ! — now  is  the  day  of  salvation ! 

Hallelujah!  "Justified  by  faith."  O,  what  a  power 
is  that ! — ^the  little  stone,  cut  out  of  the  mountain  without 
hands,  that  smote  the  image  Impossible,  which  was  so 
great  and  terrible! — for  it  was  only  an  image  with  the 
Devil  in  it, — ^that  was  what  made  it  so  terrible.  But  it  is 
demolished  now,  and  the  day,  the  victory  is  ours. 

O,  bless  God,  ye  hitherto  despairing  ones,  for  this  save- 
unto-  the-uttermost,  and  for  the  five  smooth  stones  of  the 
brook!  That  especially,  "Therefore,  being  justified  by 
faith,  we  have  peace  with  God  through  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ."  And  now,  establish  yourselves  in  Christ.  Heark- 
en! If  you  have  been  only  cheered  thus  far  with  the 
brightening  prospect  of  salvation,  for  Christ^s  sake,  for 
your  soul's  sake,  stand  no  longer  there.  Come  on  quick- 
ly, and  be  saved.  The  prince  of  the  power  of  the  air  is 
ready  to  start  up  other  images  of  terror;  rapidly  as  the 
winds  can  roll  the  clouds  along,  and  throng  the  sky  with 
images,  so  can  he  crowd  the  sky  of  your  souls  with  images 


Revivals  under  caughey. 


188 


of  terror  or  of  sorrow,  as  unsubstantial  as  they! 

Hearken  unto  me !  Open  wide  the  eyes  of  your  under- 
standing, that  you  may  see  clearly,  in  this  your  day,  the 
things  which  belong  unto  your  peace. 

It  is  not  enough  to  believe  that  Christ  died  for  you ; — 
that  alone  cannot  save  you.  Depend  wholly  upon  Christ. 
Depend  only  upon  his  merits  and  death.  Set  nothing  else 
before  your  eyes  but  Jesus  Christ  bleeding  and  dying  for 
your  sins.  And,  when  you  have  gazed  long  enough  upon 
that,  sufficient  to  inspire  a  conscious  reliance  upon  your 
part,  then  look  up,  and  behold  a  living,  reigning,  inter- 
ceding Jesus,  at  the  right  hand  of  God, — interceding  for 
you,  as  your  merciful  high  priest, — exalted,  also,  to  be 
"a  prince  and  a  Savior.'^  Rely  wholly  upon  his  media- 
tions there,  and  the  joy  and  gladness  of  a  reigning  Savior 
will  soon  fill  your  every  soul. 

Do  you  understand  me?  Do  you  all  understand  me? 
Away  with  every  plea  or  support  besides;  weep,  pray, 
agonize  as  much  as  you  please;  but  you  cannot  be  saved 
unless  you  depend  entirely  upon  Christ.  A  soul  undone  by 
sin  has  only  Christ  to  rest  upon ;  He  is  the  rock,  and,  to 
borrow  an  idea  of  Young,  all  is  sea  besides,  sinks  under 
him, — bestorms,  and  then  devours ;  but  depending  only  on 
Christ,  he  defies  all  else,  and  rejoices  in  the  full  assurance 
of  a  present  salvation! 

It  must  be  plain  to  most  of  you,  by  this  time,  that 
"the  stranger"  has  not  been  trying  to  sustain  a  reputa- 
tion for  what  is  usually  termed  sermonizing;  constructing 
his  discourses  after  some  generally  approved  model,  in  a 
tasteful  and  elegant  manner;  that  he  has  not  been  preach- 
ing as  if  his  credit,  as  a  preacher,  were  at  stake,  and  that 
must  be  preserved,  whether  sinners  are  saved  or  damned. 


184 


Old  time  religion. 


No;  this  sort  of  thing  is  of  but  very  small  account  with 
him,  if  so  be  sinners  are  converted  to  God.  Nor  was  it  of 
much  account  to  the  apostles  of  Jesus  Christ,  if  we  may 
judge  of  their  sermons  by  the  specimens  on  record. 

Christ  has  my  heart.  It  is  full  of  love  to  him,  and  to 
the  souls  for  whom  he  bled  and  died.  The  love  is  usually 
general,  extended  to  all  classes  of  sinners.  Then  my  style 
of  preaching  is  general,  and  my  affections  and  sympathies, 
like  the  sea,  spread  themselves  as  a  tide  along  all  the  gen- 
eral shores  of  mind.  But  individual  minds  arrest  my  love, 
my  sympathies,  my  zeal;  then  my  style  individualizes  it- 
self, so  to  speak,  and  concentrates  upon  them  love,  sym- 
pathy, zeal,  like  the  waves  which  come  with  the  insetting 
tide,  dashing,  lashing,  and  overflowing  those  outstanding 
rocks,  until  they  become  quite  submerged;  and  then  the 
waves  have  free  course  oyer  them,  and  spread  themselves 
far  and  wide  along  the  sounding  shore. 

iA.nd  was  it  not  thus  with  the  preaching  of  our  Lord? 
He  addressed  the  people  by  thousands ;  and  his  promises 
and  threatenings  rolled  over  the  general  mass,  as  the  sun- 
shine or  the  thunder  over  the  population  of  a  city.  Never- 
theless, he  had  a  word  for  the  leper,  for  blind  Bartimeus, 
for  weeping  Mary,  a  message  for  Zaccheus,  a  reply  for 
the  Syrophenician  woman,  a  conversation  with  Nicodemus, 
a  walk  with  Jairus,  a  word  for  the  young  Ruler,  for  Peter, 
for  the  Demoniac,  and  even  for  Judas ;  and  a  lamentation 
and  tears  for  Jerusalem,  although  there  were  many  other 
persons,  villages,  and  cities,  which  needed  his  sympathies. 
But  how  the  pronouns  spoke  for  the  individualizing  of  his 
sympathies,  and  for  Jerusalem  in  the  lamentation  in  our 
text !  "If  thou  hadst  known,  even  thou,  at  least  in  this  thy 
day,  the  things  which  belong  to  thy  peace!  but  now  they 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY, 


185 


are  hid  from  thine  eyes."  And  all  this  interrupted  with 
sighs,  and  sobs,  and  tears ;  for  he  saw  its  approaching  deso- 
lations, and  its  impending  ruin;  the  desolation  and  utter 
ruin  of  its  population  also.  "The  chosen  ignorance,  and 
obstinate  perverseness"  of  its  sinful  people,  and  their  im- 
pending doom,  wrung  his  heart,  and  flooded  his  cheeks 
with  tears ! 

Have  you  seen  nothing  of  this- among  us,  of  late? — 
our  burdened  souls  weeping  for,  and  pleading  with  and  for 
sinful  men,  who  are  doomed  to  hell,  and  yet  may  repent 
and  be  saved.  Thus  it  has  been,  system  or  no  system, 
order  or  disorder, — our  emotions  carrying  us  over  all 
things,  straight  to  the  mark,  the  heart  and  conscience  of 
poor  sinners  f    *    *    *  * 

A  few  words  to  another,  whom  I  shall  name  "A  Pre- 
sumer," — that  is,  one  who  ventures  his  soul  upon  a  false 
ground  of  confidence, — the  mercy  of  God,  but  living  at 
the  same  time  in  wilful  rebellion  against  him ! — who  makes 
the  plea  of  Christ's  dying,  a  reason  for  his  sinning, — 
God's  forbearance  a  motive  for  his  impenitence; — the  ex- 
act brother  of  him,  of  whom  it  was  said,  a  long  while  ago, 
that,  spider-like,  he  sucked  poison  out  of  the  sweet  flower 
of  God's  mercy, — and  boldly  plucked  death  from  the  tree 
of  life,  and  through  presumption  went  to  hell ; — yes !  went 
down  to  hell  by  the  same  ladder  of  Christ's  blood,  by 
which  the  saints  of  God  ascend  into  heaven,  and  by  which 
many  a  penitent  sinner  here  ascends  out  of  the  horrible 
pit  and  miry  clay  up  into  the  light  of  day,  and  the  sun- 
shine of  God's  reconciled  countenance  !  Alas  !  unfortun- 
ate man,  he  reversed  the  ladder,  and  stepped  down  by 
it  into  the  pit  that  is  bottomless, — for,  he  made  the  plea 
of  Christ's  dying,  the  cause  of  his  perishing.    St.  Paul 


186 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


hints  that  -the  goodness  of  God"  should  *'lea'd  us  to  re- 
pentance." Alas,  it  only  led  him  to  presumption!  The 
man  hoped  himself  to  hell,  and  was  damned  by  mistake ! 

Hearken!  Are  you  going  to  hell  in  the  same  way? 
Must  one  more  be  added  to  hell's  wallers,  and  that  one 
yourself? 

Man!  listen  to  me!  Nearly  two  hundred  years  ago 
one  of  your  English  divines  appealed  to  a  certain  sinner 
thus :  "Verily,  if  sin  had  not  turned  the  ungodly  part  of 
the  world  into  a  bedlam,  where  it  is  no  wonder  to  see  a  man 
out  of  his  wits  people  would  run  out  in  wonder  into  the 
streets,  and  call  to  one  another,  'Come,  and  see  a  man  that 
can  trifle  and  sport  away  his  time  as  he  is  going  to  eternity, 
and  is  ready  to  enter  another  world !  Come,  and  see  a  man 
that  hath  but  a  few  days  to  win  or  lose  his  soul  forever  in, 
and  is  playing  it  away  at  cards  or  dice,  or  wasting  it  in 
doing  nothing !  Come,  and  see  a  man  that  hath  hours  to 
spare  upon  trifles,  with  heaven  and  hell  before  his  eyes !' " 

Dec.  7th. — Battering  down  false  hopes ; — pressing  hard 
on  the  delaying,  the  loitering,  the  wavering.  Make  full 
proof  of  thy  ministry,  O,  my  soul !  Amen. 

If  some  are  lost  at  last,  God  clearly  acquits  himself  of 
their  blood.  Tried  hard  that  I  might  be  acquitted  too,  in 
case  that  calamity  should  happen  to  any  of  my  hearers. 
How  men  do  abuse  the  mercy  of  God  to  his  face!  But 
how  patiently  does  he  bear  with  them,  and  await  their 
leisure  for  repentance ! — calls  loudly  upon  them  to  repent, 
and  waits ; — scores  and  scores  and  hundreds  of  times  offers 
them  mercy,  and  suffers  them  to  reject  it;— -repeats  the 
offers  again,  and  again,  till  the  sinner  is  weary  of  them. 
O  God,  how  great  is  thy  goodness !  Repeats  the  offers  of 
mercy  again  and  again,  till  the  sinner  loaths  them,  spurns 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


187 


them,  treats  God  and  them  with  contempt!  Alas!  then 
Cometh  the  end,  and  vengeance  to  the  uttermost. 

O,  how  terrible  is  that  intimation  in  Hebrews  lo :  30, 
"Vengeance  belongeth  unto  me,  I  will  recompense,  saith 
the  Lord  1"  But  it  is  a  flash  from  that  awful  thunder- 
cloud, in  the  26th,  27th,  28th,  and  29th  verses  of  the  same 
chapter:  *'For,  if  we  sin  wilfully,"  etc.  All  sin  that  is 
damnable,  is  wilful ;  but  all  wilful  sin  is  not  unpardonable, 
because  not  incurable.  But,  as  one  remarks,  "When  it  is 
incurable,  it  is  the  special  sin  of  hell,  the  badge  of  devils, 
and  of  sinners  damned."  It  cannot  become  incurable  till 
"the  sin  unto  death"  is  committed,  I  suppose. — i  John  5 : 
16,  17.  Some  sin  against  the  Holy  Spirit,  doubtless,  and 
under  superior  illumination.  O,  for  a  right  heart  to  feel 
for  sinners ! 

Dec.  nth. — Ay!  Experience  and  necessity  teach  more 
effectually  than  theory.  Depravity,  enmity,  and  unbelief, 
make  a  man  serious ; — and  that  old  serpent,  the  Devil, 
Apollyon,  leading  them  on,  saying,  "Thus  far^  but  no  fur  - 
ther;"— and  my  soul  replying,  "Yes,  and  further!  so 
help  me,  O  God,  in  Christ !"  Ay,  these  things  sober  one, 
and  the  fancy  and  imagination  hide  themselves  from  the 
fight.    ^    ^    ^  ^ 

Confined  to  the  house  but  not  to  my  bed.  The  attack 
was  very  sudden,  similar  to  that  which  prostrated  me  twice 
in  York,  and  once  in  America;  and,  as  then,  "in  dead  of 
night;" — the  fourth  attack  of  the  same  kind,  and  always 
at  night,  and  with  no  previous  warning ; — as  if  Death,  had 
he  permission,  would  like  to  come  suddenly  upon  me,  and 
"as  a  thief  in  the  night," — and  so  sudden  as  last  night; — 
a  comment  upon  those  lines  of  Charles  Wesley,  which  I 


188 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


copied  in  Quebec,  from  an  old  Magazine,  brought  over  by 
an  emigrant: 

"From  sudden,  unexpected  death 

Jesus  thy  servant  save, 
Nor  let  me  gasp  my  latest  breath 

Unmindful  of  the  grave. 

Unconscious  of  the  yawning  deep. 

And  death  eternal  nigh; 
Oh,  do  not  suffer  me  to  sleep  * 

Till  in  my  sins  1  die! 

And  summoned  to  the  mountain-top. 

Without  a  lingering  sigh. 
Render  my  ransomed  spirit  up, 

And  to  thy  glory  die. 

Wise  to  foresee  my  latter  end. 

With  humble  loving  fear, 
I  would  continually  attend 

The  welcome  messenger." 

After  about  two  hours  of  severe  suffering,  I  staggered 
out  of  my  room,  and  awoke  Mr.  Wright.  Had  great  peace 
in  the  midst  of  great  pain.  When  it  seemed  as  if  I  could 
endure  no  more  and  live,  was  enabled  to  say  to  Mr.  W., 
''Death  has  no  terrors, — no  sting;  Jesus  is  precious, — tell 
my  friends  this,  if  I  depart."  However,  I  wished  to 
live,  should  it  please  the  Head  of  the  church; — did  not 
wish  to  die  in  a  strange  land ; — affairs  of  a  temporal  nature 
not  in  a  very  tangible  form, — my  private  papers  and  jour- 
nals in  a  somewhat  disordered  state, — would  like  to  live  to 
erase  this  or  that,  and  rewrite  other  parts,  and  not  leave 
that  to  the  judgment  of  others ;  but  above  all  to  call  sin- 
ners to  repentance,  a  while  longer.    *    *  * 

No,  it  does  not  tire  me  to  write,  but  rather  amuses  me, 
and  is  profitable  withal.  There  is  a  great  feebleness  upon 
me,  and  lassitude; — thinking  of  what  one  said,  "I  am  so 
weak  that  I  cannot  stand  upon  my  legs,  but  I  can  cast 
myself  into  my  Father's  arms !"  Blessed  be  God,  I  can  do 
that ! 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


189 


But  I  feel  much  better, — trying  to  buckle  on  the  armor 
again,  with  a  glad  and  solemn  heart; — cannot  sympathize 
with  him  who,  on  returning  from  the  gates  of  death,  ex- 
claimed, "I  was  as  a  sheep  that  had  nearly  entered  the 
fold,  but  was  driven  back  into  the  storm  again,  or  as  a 
traveler  almost  home,  yet  compelled  to  return  again  to 
fetch  something  he  had  neglected;" — or,  he  might  have 
added,  like  a  ship  that  had  nearly  entered  her  destined  port, 
but  ordered  out  to  sea  again  by  her  owners ! 

O,  but  I  am  glad  at  the  prospect  of  a  return  to  the  bat- 
tle-storm of  soul-saving! — glad  to  return  to  "fetch"  more 
holiness  with  me  to  heaven,  and  many  more  poor,  neg- 
lected souls  besides ! — glad  to  put  out  to  sea  again,  as 
long  voyages  are  apt  to  give  large  returns  of  profits,  and 
short  voyages  the  contrary ! 

Urging  on  the  battle-strife  once  more, — for  truth, — 
for  Christ, — for  souls ; — in  weakness  fearing  another  at- 
tack of  illness.  But  the  doctor  hopes  it  may  be  avoided, 
and  does  not  forbid  my  preaching.  God  bless  him  for  that ! 
for,  O,  to  be  passive  or  inactive,  at  such  a  time  as  this, 
would  require  more  grace  than  this  activity  for  God  de- 
mands ! 

Rom.  8:  28,  stands  good, — ''All  things  work  together 
for  good  to  them  that  love  God."  The  fires  which  agitate 
and  greatly  try  gold  and  silver,  work  at  the  same  time  for 
their  purification,  beauty,  value,  glory  1 

But  truth  and  the  sinner  are  still  antagonists.  I  see 
that!  What  an  expression  of  resistance!  Truth  may  be 
dressed  up  so  prettily  that  the  sinner  will  really  like  it; 
but  no  sooner  does  it  appear  in  its  real  dress  and  uncom- 
promising utterances,  than  he  frowns  upon  it,  and  puts 
himself  in  an  attitude  to  repel  it.    Well,  I  have  not  been 


190 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


"dressing  up"  truth  since  my  arrival  in  Birmingham,  God 
knows ! — for  I  know  precious  little  gain  is  it  to  the  church 
in  the  long  run, — "dressed  up  truth,  as  if  it  were  to  sell," 
as  a  Spaniard  observed. 

Dec.  23. — Truth  cuts  like  a  sword.  It  is  well ;  it  would 
wear  out  the  body  else, — the  sword  would  cut  through  the 
scabbard  at  such  a  time  as  this; — ^best  to  keep  using  it! 
Real  truth  is  a  real  sword,  dividing  asunder  the  joints 
and  marrow,  the  soul  and  spirit,  of  wickedness;  but  not 
painted  truth!  A  painted  sword  cuts  not,  nor  a  sword 
in  the  scabbard,  nor  a  muffled  sword,  though  equal  to  that 
of  Goliath  of  Gath,  that  was  "wrapped  in  a  cloth  behind 
the  ephod." — i  Sam.  21 :  9.  O,  give  me  -the  naked  sword 
of  truth,  with  strength  and  courage  to  wield  it,  O,  Lord 
God  of  truth !  Amen. 

To  change  the  figure,  truth  is  as  a  serpent  to  many. 
Sinful  men  cannot  understand  this ;  neither  can  some  in 
the  church,  who  profess  to  be  better.  It  is  enough,  they 
think,  that  truth  should  be  a  rod^ — even  a  sword  is  admis- 
sible, where  the  sinews  of  wickedness  are  hard  and  tough ! 
— but  that  truth  should  be  made  to  multiply  itself  so,  and 
become  as  "fiery  flying  serpents"  among  the  people,  they 
cannot  away  with  it; — fly  from  it; — and  yet,  strange  to 
say,  it  has  a  fascination  to  draw  them  back  to  it!  They 
forget  that  the  rod  of  Moses  was  turned  into  a  serpent! 
He  fled  from  it;  but  when  God  commanded  him  to  come 
back  and  take  it  by  the  tail,  he  did  so,  and  it  became  a  rod 
again, — his  friend,  indeed,  by  which  he  shook  the  throne 
of  the  Pharaohs.  So,  the  Lord  our  God  brings  back  again 
these  flying  sinners; — they  venture  to  seize  the  serpent 
truth  by  the  tail,  keeping  as  far  from  its  bite  as  possible, 
when,  lo,  it  is  but  a  rod,  after  all,  in  the  hand  of  school- 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


191 


master  Law,  to  bring  them  to  Christ,  as  Paul  hints.  Then 
it  becomes  their  friend  indeed,  and  by  it,  they  shake  all 
spiritual  Egypt  around  them ;  and  their  emancipation  from 
the  slavery  of  the  old  Pharoah  of  hell,  becomes  the  order 
of  the  day  of  salvation!    Hallelujah!    *    *  * 

Ay,  all  that  is  true ! — a  soul-saving  preacher  requires 
a  soul  stern  as  the  face  of  war;  yet,  in  its  secret  depths, 
full  to  overflowing  with  the  gushing  benevolence  of  Jesus, 
— and  of  the  spirit  of  burning! — Is.  4:  4, — crying  out  unto 
God: 

"Steel  me  to  shame,  reproach,  disgrace; 

Arm  me  vsdth  all  thine  armor  now; 
Set  like  a  flint  my  steady  face, 

Harden  to  adamant  my  brow. 

Bold  may  I  wax,  exceeding  bold, 

My   high   commission   to  perform, 
Nor  shrink  thy  harhest   truths  t' unfold; 

But  more  than  meet  the  gathering  storm. 

Adverse  to  earth's  rebellious  throng, 

Still  may  I  turn   my  fearless  face; 
Stand  as  an  iron  pillar  strong. 

And  steadfast  as  a  wall  of  brass. 

Give  me  thy  might,  thou  God  of  power, 

Then  let  or  men  or  fiends  assail. 
Strong  in  thy  strength  I'll  stand,  a  tower 

Impregnable  to  earth  or  hell." 

But,  ah,  sir,  a  messenger  of  this  sort  needs  a  peculiar 
physical,  as  well  as  mental  constitution.  For,  although  his 
are  moral,  not  physical  victories,  yet  the  body  must  sustain 
the  soul  that  wins  them.  A  mortal  frame,  carrying  about 
a  soul  of  fire,  needs  a  constant  miracle  to  sustain  it ;  as  if 
insured  in  heaven !  For  it  resembles  the  bush  in  the  wil- 
derness,— in  a  blaze,  yet  unconsumed. — Exod.  3:  2.  "A 
great  sight"  it  was  to  Moses  that,  and  a  great  sight  is  such 
an  one  to  angels  and  to  men. 

The  head  of  the  church  raises  up,  and  qualifies  such  ex- 
traordinary messengers.   They  appear,  from  time  to  time, 


192 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


in  the  churches'  need.  He  endues  them  with  extraordi- 
nary power  and  zeal,  and  thrusts  them  forth  to  burn  and  to 
shine.  Such  were  Wesley,  Whitfield,  Fletcher,  and  many 
others  in  the  eighteenth  century;  such  was  Luther,  and  a 
host  in  the  sixteenth  century.  Nor  is  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury unblest  by  them.  They  are  designed  to  break  up  the 
ruinous  monotony  of  the  churches,  and  to  awaken  men  to 
the  concern  of  eternity. 

Usually,  they  are  short-lived.  Indifference,  or  opposi- 
tion, breaks  their  heart;  or  hard  constant  labor  wears 
them  out  soon,  moaning  with  their  Lord,  as  they  disap- 
pear from  among  men,  "The  zeal  of  thine  house  hath  eaten 
me  up."  But  the  Lord  raises  up  others  of  like  spirit ;  for 
this  is  really  the  ''apostolic  succession,"  after  all. 

Dec.  27th. — The  ancients  compared  truth  to  salt ; — very 
significant ;  it  makes  the  old  sores  and  new  wounds  of  pro- 
fessors and  sinners  smart  again!  All  the  better  for  that, 
if  they  keep  temper.  It  hastens  the  healing.  The  spirit- 
ual hurt  must  not  be  healed  slightly,  as  the  Head  of  the 
church  intimates  by  the  prophet :  "They  have  healed  also 
the  hurt  of  the  daughter  of  my  people  slightly,  saying, 
Peace,  peace,  when  there  is  no  peace."  Ay,  that  decep- 
tive practice  is  still  continued.  The  wounds  made  by  sin 
must  be  probed,  cleansed,  closed,  before  they  can  be  healed 
with  safety,  without  the  risk  of  a  spiritual  fester,  or  of  bleed- 
ing afresh. 

But,  what  a  work  of  God  is  breaking  forth  in  every  di- 
rection ! 

Dec.  29th. — A  little  more  strength.  The  work  spreads 
like  a  flame, — "like  fire  among  dry  stubble."  Hallelujah! 

*    *  * 

There  is  great  disorder  sometimes,  and  who  ever  saw 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


193 


a  great  battle  entirely  free  from  that?  My  sub-divisions, 
regiments  and  batalions,  and  rank  and  file,  go  in  for  it 
in  a  holy  disordered  order.  Ideas  and  illustrations, — what 
are  they  in  military  parlance  ?  O,  armed  soldiers  of  Eman- 
uel, in  uniform  and  panoply  divine! — a  bannered  host, 
rushing  forth,  and  doing  battle  for  the  Lord  God  of  hosts ; 
the  Holy  Ghost  electrifying  them  with  his  energy  and 
power,  and  sweeping  them  along,  or  "leading  them  to  the 
charge,"  as  a  military  man  observed,  ''where  the  slain  of 
the  Lord  were  many as  on  last  Sabbath  night.  Hallelu- 
jah ! 

I  like  all  the  chapels  ;  Newtown-Row,  Belmont-Row, 
Cherry-street,  and  Wesley; — have  held  meetings  in  them 
all.  Very  easy  to  preach  in  them;  they  display  much 
sound  judgment  in  that  respect;  plain,  substantial  build- 
ings; fine  organs  and  good  choirs  and  congregational 
singing;  excellent  bands  of  devoted  and  talented  leaders 
and  local  preachers.  The  stationed  ministers  on  both  cir- 
cuits are  kind.  Rev.  Joseph  Wood  is  truly  at  home  in 
the  revival.   Praise  the  Lord ! 

Held  a  Watch  Night  in  Cherry-street  Chapel  last  night. 
Text,  "This  year  thou  shalt  die." — Jer.  28:  16.  The  New 
Year  ushered  itself  in  most  gloriously  to  some,  but  most 
miserably  in  the  apprehensions  of  others, — the  awakened, 
the  terrified,  the  despairing.  Poor  souls !  reminding  one 
of  Petrarch's  line, 

"When  trembling  Hope  was  frozen  to  Despair!" 

But  I  know  the  Lord !  I  know  his  ways !  He  always 
kills  before  he  makes  alive, — inflicts  death  before  he  in- 
fuses life, — and  administers  the  bitter  always  before  the 
sweet.    The  Devil  reverses  this,  in  whom  he  is  working 


194 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION, 


damnation.  But  this  is  God's  order  with  those  in  whom 
he  would  work  salvation.  Poor  souls !  they  do  not  seem 
to  understand  this,  and  sob  and  wail  as  if  he  really  intended 
to  damn  them.  But  I  have  no  fear  of  them,  if  they  only 
persevere.  "The  Lord  will  not  always  chide ;  neither  will 
he  keep  his  anger  forever !"  No,  blessed  be  his  name ! 
*    *  * 

There  is  every  prospect  now  of  a  mighty  work  of  God, 
which,  "like  mighty  winds  and  torrents  fierce,"  will  turn, 
and  overturn,  and  overcome  all  opposing  powers.  A  few 
dams  have  got  to  give  way,  and  a  few  barriers  swept  out 
of  the  way,  and  then — salvation!  O,  for  a  fresh  baptism, 
and  strength  of  all  sorts !  A  crisis  is  the  time  that  tests 
the  genius  and  fitness  of  a  general ;  and  battle  tests  the 
soldier,  and  such  a  crisis  as  this,  the  preacher ; — and  many 
such  have  I  had. 

"Arise,  my  soul,  arise!" 

Your  "observations"  are  valuable ;  but,  depend  upon 
it,  such  a  method  would  never  accomplish  much  in  Bir- 
mingham, or  I  greatly  mistake  the  character  of  its  people. 
It  has  been  pretty  well  tried  in  Birmingham,  and  I  have  no 
heart  to  prolong  the  experiment,  so  well  and  so  fruitlessly 
tested  by  wiser  heads  than  mine. 

The  preaching  that  will  please  carnal  men  is  about  sure 
to  please  the  Devil  also;  what  one  called  "gaudy  allusions, 
and  pretty  gingles,  and  knacks  of  wit,  and  scraps  of  Greek 
and  Latin,  and  shreds  of  fathers  and  philosophy, — in  well- 
set  and  accurate  speech;" — ay!  something  to  tickle  the 
fancy  without  touching  the  conscience !  No  !  by  the  grace 
of  God,  no ! — a  thousand  times  no !  Better  I  was  con- 
cealed once  more  in  the  western  wilderness,  than  attempt 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


195 


such  an  exhibition.  No!  no!  no!  "Give  me  souls,  or  I 
die !"  is  the  cry  of  my  heart.  But  this  is  not  the  way  to 
win  them,  nor  any  mode  of  preaching  akin  to  it.  No  

Genteel  efforts,  and  polite  endeavors,  will  never  origi- 
nate a  revival  here,  nor  sustain  it  if  begun ;  will  never 

"Bow  down  stubborn  knees,  and  hearts  with  strings  of  steel." 

Nor  can  a  whisper  do  what  demands  a  thunder.  A  few 
squibs  can  never  accomplish  what  demands  a  grand  battery 
of  cannon !  A  breath,  a  zephyr  from  a  garden  of  roses, 
cannot  move  or  overthrow  that  which  requires  a  breeze,  a 
tempest,  a  tornado,  or  the  might  of  ignited  gunpowder! 
The  strongholds  of  the  Devil  are  not  to  be  taken  and 
pulled  down  by  "gentle,"  but  by  pretty  violent  measures, 
such  as  "carpet  knights"  and  tea-table  champions  are  never 
Hkely  to  engage  in ;  but  men  of  nerve,  courage,  zeal,  and 
capable  of  enduring  hardness  as  good  soldiers  of  Jesus 
Christ  (2  Tim.  2:3);  who  are  more  anxious  for  fighting 
than  for  drinking!    *    *  * 

What  an  amazing  work  hath  the  Lord  wrought  the  last 
ten  or  twelve  days !  It  is  the  Lord's  doings,  indeed,  and 
marvellous  in  our  eyes, — almost  equal,  in  fact,  to  what  we 
witnessed  in  Doncaster  and  Macclesfield.  Hallelujah! 

Afternoon. — Onward  for  victory.  The  Lord  of  hosts 
is  with  us.  Sinners  are  slain  on  every  side.  The  Gospel 
is  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation.  But  the  power  must 
be  attended  with  an  unfaltering  footstep,  a  bold  heart, 
a  steady,  trusty  arm,  and  a  fearless  tongue.  The  French 
poet  spoke  well,  when  he  said, 


"0,  he  who  in  thy  pathway  treads, 
Must   toil  and  pain  endure! 


196  OLD  TIME  RELIGION.  ^ 

His  head  must  plan  the  boldest  deeds, 
His  arm  must  make  them  sure." 

Have  been  looking  back  with  gratitude  upon  the  past 
year  of  my  Hfe ; — a  year  of  many  mercies,  and  of  consider- 
able success  to  my  ministry; — not  less  than  between  four 
and  five  thousand  souls  justified,  and  about  two  thousand 
sanctified,  in  the  protracted  services  in  which  I  have  been 
engaged  during  the  last  twelve  months.  All  glory  to  God ! 
He  doeth  the  works,  and  in  every  place  he  surrounds  me- 
with  a  host  of  praying  men  and  women,  to  whom,  under 
God,  I  owe  much  of  my  success.  O,  what  a  glorious  re- 
ward awaits  them  above,  if  faithful  to  the  end! 

Jan.  9th. — Wisdom  and  Prudence!  How  necessary 
they  should  accompany  burning  zeal !  Too  much  pru- 
dence, or  overmuch  caution,  makes  a  cold  and  timid  preach- 
er, and  unfits  for  such  service  as  this ;  yet,  a  deficiency  of 
these  may  lead  a  misguided  zeal  to  spoil  all.  Lord,  help 
me ! 

However,  the  work  of  God  shows  no  pause.  That  text 
had  great  force.  Psalm  16:  11, — "Thou  wilt  show  me  the 
path  of  life:  in  thy  presence  is  fulness  of  joy;  at  thy  right 
hand  there  are  pleasures  for  evermore."  A  sweet  theme! 
— the  pleasures  of  heaven ! — the  chief  of  which,  a  sight  of 
Jesus !  How  tKat  moves  an  audience ! — especially  when 
one  can  get  such  a  view  of  Him,  and  language  to  express 
it,  such  as  the  Holy  Spirit  alone  can  give  the  preacher, 
when  that  promise  of  Jesus  has  a  fulfilment,  "He  shall 
glorify  me,  for  he  shall  receive  of  mine,  and  will  show  it 
unto  you."  But  there  is  much  we  must  die  to  know, 
even  of  Jesus  and  his  glory.  I  believe  with  him  who  said, 
"Of  all  the  objects  of  celestial  blessedness,  Jesus  will  stand 
first,  the  most  conspicuous  object  of  heavenly  contempla- 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


197 


tion."  The  Psalmist  was  of  the  same  opinion,  when  he 
exclaimed,  "Whom  have  I  in  heaven  but  thee?  and  there 
is  none  upon  earth  that  I  .desire  besides  thee."  He  con- 
sidered a  sight  of  Him,  in  heaven,  the  loveliest,  sweetest, 
grandest,  that  heaven  could  afford ; — so  think  I,  and  long 
to  be  there,  to  see  Him  as  He  is,  and  to  be  like  Him! — i 
John  3:2. 

A  great  move ;  trophies  of  salvation  many.  Hallelujah ! 
Jan.  loth.  Saturday  morning. — Sanctification  last 
night, — my  usual  theme  on  Friday  nights.  What  a  re- 
markable blessing  from  the  Lord  attends  that  doctrine! 
What  want  or  dearth  is  felt  in  that  church  or  society 
where  it  is  not  preached,  fully,  clearly,  thoroughly,  heart- 
ily, and  as  a  present  salvation,  attainable  now,  by  faith! 
Mr.  Wesley  was  well  persuaded  of  this  when  he  wrote  to 
one  of  his  preachers  thus :  "When  this  is  not  preached, 
there  is  seldom  any  remarkable  blessing  from  God,  and 
consequently  little  addition  to  the  society,  or  little  life  in 
the  members  of  it.  Speak,  and  spare  not;  let  not  regard 
to  any  man  induce  you  to  betray  the  truth  of  God.  Till 
you  press  believers  to  expect  full  salvation  now,  you  must 
not  look  for  any  revival."  Ay !  and  when  that  grand  doc- 
trine of  the  Gospel  is  thus  faithfully  preached,  the  effects 
are  soon  evident  and  glorious.  "The  Gospel,"  as  one  ob- 
serves, "will  then  be  consulted  as  a  fresh  charter  from 
heaven.  Promises,  which  before  were  repeated  with  freez- 
ing accents,  will  now  burn  upon  the  lips,  and  will  be  plead 
with  an  earnestness  that  will  open  heaven."  It  was  so,  truly, 
last  night.  The  work  of  entire  sanctification  (i  Thess. 
5 :  23,  24)  has  advanced  with  great  rapidity  and  power  the 
last  few  weeks ;  not  less  than  three  hundred  persons  have 
professed  its  attainment !   A  noble  pledge,  this,  that  these 


198 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


protracted  services  are  not  likely  to  leave  the  church 
weary,  wasted,  and  exhausted,  but  rich  in  faith,  and  love, 
and  holiness. 

Jan.  1 2th.  Monday  morning. — I  preached  twice,  yes- 
terday, in  the  IsHngton  Chapel, — a  neat  place  of  worship, 
in  the  suburbs  of  Birmingham.  Sixty  persons  professed 
to  find  mercy,  and  thirty  purity  of  heart.  The  scenes  were 
indeed  awfully  grand  and  overwhelming, — such  multitudes 
of  wounded  and  distressed  people  crying  for  mercy! — 

"Deep  wounded  by  the  Spirit's  sword, 
And  then  by  Gilead's  balm  restored!" 

Jan.  19th.  Monday. — A  great  victory  yesterday.  Sin- 
ners'are  leaving  the  ranks  of  sin,  scores  following  scores! 
— Wonderful !  O,  how  deep  and  pungent  their  convictions 
for  sin !  How  clear  their  sense  of  pardon !  How  deep  and 
tender  their  gratitude  to  God  and  man  for  so  great  a  deliv- 
erance !  and  what  unutterable  humility  and  love !  O,  who 
could  doubt  the  genuineness  of  such  a  work  as  this !  Hal- 
lelujah ! 

Jan.  21  St.  Wednesday. — Blessings  come  in  hurricanes 
these  days !  These  are  Pentecostal  days  in  Birmingham. 
Great  liberty  in  preaching  the  word, 

"And  every  feeling  uttered,  fully  felt." 

O,  how  evidently  does  the  hand  of  our  God  endorse  and 
attest  the  truth  of  his  revealed  will  in  the  glorious  Gospel 
of  his  Son !   Showers  of  blessings !    Hallelujah.    *    *  * 

Yes,  I  had  a  hard  time  of  it ;  beating  the  air,  or  as  one 
throwing  feathers;  and  I  know  the  cause  very  well;  and 
that  is  a  mercy,  otherwise  I  might  have  come  to  some  rash 
or  false  conclusion. 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


199 


It  should  be  a  lesson  to  me.  This  lightness  of  heart 
before  preaching  is  not  quite  the  thing;  not  safe,  however 
innocent, — an  innocent  light-heartedness,  as  religious  peo- 
ple would  call  it;  but  neither  innocent  nor  wise  in  one  who 
was  about  to  stand  between  the  living  and  the  dead, — 
between  sinners  and  incensed  justice,  and  a  burning  hell, 
and  a  grieved  Holy  Spirit,  and  an  interceding  High  Priest, 
and  a  justly  offended  God!  *'He  that  winneth  souls  is 
wise,"  says  Solomon.  Ay,  but  it  is  not  wise  to  go  about 
that  work  with  a  loose  and  careless  spirit !  This  I  know, 
and  therefore  I  am  accountable. 

How  liable  I  am  to  the  temptation  to  unbuckle  my  spir- 
itual armor,  if  I  sit  down  for  a  tea-table  chit-chat,  even 
among  good  people ;  to  sheathe  the  sword  of  truth  within, 
and  lay  it  aside,  instead  of  burnishing  it,  and  sharpening  it, 
and  looking  at  it,  and  at  the  cause  for  which  it  must  be 
wielded,  till  my  soul  is  fired  "to  do  exploits,"  as  the  angel 
said  to  Daniel.  And  how  such  tea-table  sociability 
smoothes  down  the  wrinkles  of  war,  and  melts  off  the 
horns,  and  the  angles,  and  the  spear-points  of  awakening 
truth  from  the  mind;  so  sunny,  so  congenial  the  atmos- 
phere around  approving  friends  !  And  then  to  hurry  off  to 
the  pulpit  without  the  proper  time  of  being  alone  with  God, 
or  to  buckle  on  the  armor  anew,  and  to  examine  the  mind, 
as  to  the  state  of  truth  in  it,  around  it,  and  upon  it;  and 
to  see  to  my  sword, — whether  it  has  not  lost  edge  in  the 
sheath,  or  gathered  rust  in  the  soft,  congenial  atmosphere 
of  the  tea-table. 

O,  I  did  not  get  near  enough  to  God !  My  views  of 
truth,  and  of  the  peril  of  sinners,  of  God,  o'f  Christ,  of  the 
Spirit,  and  of  my  own  responsibility,  were, far  from  being 
intensified  as  they  ought.    Heaven,  Hell,  Calvary,  were 


200 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


not  brought  near  enough  to  arouse  and  alarm  me.  Did 
not  enter  the  cloud  of  the  divine  presence  far  enough  to 
receive  the  necessary  unction  from  above.  Had  not  time, 
O,  thou  sounding  brass!  thou  tinkling  cymbal!  let  this 
be  a  lesson! — must  keep  out  of  company,  and  be  much 
alone  with  God,  upon  the  holy  mountain,  walking  up  and 
down  in  the  midst  of  the  stones  of  fire ;  then  cometh  the 
soul  from  thence,  among  the  people,  as  the  anointed 
cherub. — Ezek.  28:  14.    *    *  * 

Ah  me!  such  a  preparation  is  seldom  attained  during 
a  tea-table  chit-chat,  and  religious  pleasantry!  Ah  no! 
but  alone  with  God,  crying, — 

"My  powerful  groans  thou  canst  not  bear. 
Nor  stand  the  violence  of  my  prayer. 
My  prayer  omnipotent." 

There,  and  there  alone,  with  rare  exceptions,  the  arm 
of  the  soul  is  nerved  with  the  energy  of  the  God  of  Jacob. 
There,  and  there  only,  the  whole  man  bows  under  the 
stress  of  his  principles  and  emotions,  "like  a  tight  bow- 
string and  then,  look,  for  the  arrows  of  truth  flying  thick 
and  fast,  and  sticking  fast  in  the  hearts  of  the  king's  ene- 
mies ; — and  the  falling  down  of  the  people,  and  the  conse- 
quent cries,  prove  that  "Thine  arrows  are  sharp  in  the 
hearts  of  the  King's  enemies,"  O  Lord  God  of  hosts ! — Ps. 
45 :  5. 

O,  who  can  describe  the  scenes  which  follow! — the 
effects  of  the  word  thus  preached  with  the  Holy  Ghost 
sent  down  from  heaven!  St.  Paul  attempts  it  in  Heb.  4: 
12.  Then  it  becomes  "the  word  of  God,"  indeed ;  and  not 
a  sword  only,  but  a  royal  scepter,  in  the  hand  of  such  a 
preacher; — and  more  potent  than  all  the  kingly  scepters 
upon  the  face  of  the  earth;  for  it  accomplishes  what  all 


REVIVALS  tfNDER  CAtfGHEY. 


20i 


their  power  combined  could  never  effect.  ''The  spirits  are 
subject  unto  us,  through  thy  name."  The  place  occupied 
by  such  a  preacher  is  a  battle-field,  indeed!  and  his 
pulpit  a  throne  of  power, — and  victory  all  around.  "In 
one  part  of  the  field,"  as  a  German  divine  remarks,  "spiri- 
tual restraints  are  imposed; — in  another,  darts  and  hooks 
are  cast  into  the  heart ; — in  a  third  instance,  a  leviathan  is 
bound  in  chains  of  adamant; — in  a  fourth,  the  strength  of 
the  wicked  is  broken,  the  audacious  confused  and 
ashamed,  the  adversaries  disarmed,  blasphemies  silenced, 
and  the  licentious  forced  back,  at  least,  within  the  bounds 
of  external  order ; — and,  in  a  fifth  instance,  Zion's  banners 
are  encompassed  by  the  new  subjects  of  omnipotent  grace ; 
— and  by  such  a  preacher,  effects  like  the  above  will  every- 
where and  always  accompany  his  word."  I  believe  it,  O 
my  German  brother !  So  have  we  seen  it  in  Birmingham, 
and  so  shall  we  see  it  again,  the  same  Divine  Power  assist- 
ing us.  O,  my  Lord,  preserve  me  henceforth  from  ever 
going  into  the  pulpit  in  a  careless  spirit,  and  my  armor 
loose  about  me !   Amen.    But,  I  suppose, 

"Our  virtues  would  be  proud,  if  our  faults  wliipped  them  not!" 

However,  it  did  me  good !  It  is  profitable  to  be  well 
humbled.  It  leads  to  great  "searchings  of  heart,"  and 
drives  the  despairing  and  weakened  soul  to  the  feet  of 
God, — lays  it  low,  and  keeps  it  low,  and  there!  Amen. 

I  entered  the  pulpit  the  following  night,  with  my  soul 
tight  about  me;  and  had  a  precious  time.  O,  what  free- 
dom and  enlargement  of  soul !  What  ardor !  O,  but  God 
did  make  my  soul, 

"As  the  rapt  seraph  that  adores  and  burns." 

But,  as  usual — and  O,  how  often  it  occurs ! — upon  re- 


202 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


tiring  to  my  room,  sunk  into  deep  humiliation  before  the 
L/Ord,  in  view  of  my  many  infirmities,  and  imperfections 
as  a  speaker.  The  people  are  mown  down  like  grass  before 
the  scythe  of  God's  words.  Not  less  than  thirteen  hundred 
sinners  have  been  converted  to  God  during  the  last  seven 
weeks;  and  about  six  hundred  believers  have  obtained 
purity  of  heart.  All  the  glory  be  to  God  alone !  He  doeth 
the  works,  though  in  infinite  condescension,  he  deigns  to 
employ  very  weak  and  unworthy  instruments  in  accom- 
plishing his  purposes  of  mercy. 

The  work  is  advancing  with  unabated  power  daily. 
There  are  some  adversaries  which  spring  up  now  and 
then,  but  are  soon  borne  down  by  this  inundating  outpour- 
ing of  the  Holy  Spirit.   Hallelujah ! 

January  24th.  Saturday. — Sanctification  last  night. 
A  heavenly  calm  in  the  audience,  so  different  from  the 
hurricanes  of  emotions  through  the  week.  Had  sweet  har- 
mony in  my  own  soul, — the  heart  so  in  unison  with  the 
head,  and  a  breathing  like  an  air  of  Paradise  within  and 
around,  increasing  in  power,  till  the  listening  multitude 
were  stirred  into  an  intense  breathing  after  holiness. 
Many  went  away  from  the  under  the  word,  like  Naaman 
out  of  Jordan,  cured  of  their  spiritual  leprosy. 

Jan.  26th.  Monday. — ^This  driving  the  knowledge  of 
the  head  down  into  the  heart,  creates  strange  scenes  among 
the  people.  Truth,  that  has  lain  dead  for  years  in  the 
brain  and  imagination,  when  driven  down  upon  the  con- 
science, creates  a  wonderful  uproar !  It  never,  really,  till 
*  then,  becomes  effectual  to  the  salvation  of  the  possessor. 
But  "victory  is  of  the  L<ord,"  and  surely  he  did  give  us  the 
victory,  in  the  salvation  of  scores  of  precious  souls ! 

Jan.  28th. — Pressed  hard  upon  the  worldly-would-be- 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


203 


religious,  who,  as  one  expressed  it,  ''have  nothing  to  offer 
God,  but  some  heartless  service,  which  the  world  can 
spare,  and  which  are  but  the  leavings  of  the  flesh," — after 
the  manner  of  Cain  and  his  offering! — Gen.  4:3. 

Jan.  29th. — Heavy,  effective  ordnance,  in  active  opera- 
tion, on  our  spiritual  batteries !  And  what  a  dismounting 
of  satanic-ordnance, — carnal  reasoning, — high  imagina- 
tions,— prejudice, — ignorance, — error  and  folly;  and  as  if, 
in  the  overturn,  poor  sinners  would  be  torn  into  pieces ! 

The  Lord  grants  me  great  peace  of  mind.  Homely, 
but  true,  are  those  two  Hues  of  the  old  poet : 

"When  all  is  done  and  said,  in  the  end  this  shall  ye  find, 
He  most  of  all  doth  bathe  in  bliss  that  hath  a  quiet  mind." 

And  yet  my  soul  retains  its  antagonistic  energy,  and 
the  work  advances  in  power.  Last  week,  at  Wesley  Chap- 
el, one  hundred  and  ninety  were  saved.  The  week  previ- 
ous, at  Islington  Chapel,  two  hundred  and  forty  were 
saved.  So  speaks  the  Register.  What  the  Lamb's  book 
of  life  in  heaven  speaks,  we  must  die  to  know ;  and  to  know 
it  with  safety,  or  with  comfort,  or  with  joy,  we  must  die 
in  the  Lord. 

The  people  are  greatly  moved,  and  easily  moved,  now, 
and  very  tender;  so  easy  to  draw  tears,  and  set  them  a 
weeping  on  every  side !  How  wonderful  the  change  which 
the  Gospel  can  make  in  a  people!  The  eyes  which  were 
dry  as  the  sky,  as  in  the  days  of  Elijab,  during  the  three 
years  drought,  now  weep  tears  of  joy,  like  the  same  sky, 
after  Elijah  said  to  Ahab,  "There  is  a  sound  of  abundance 
of  rain !"   Bless  thou  the  Lord,  O  my  soul  j    *    *  * 

Jan.  31st. — Holiness  last  night.  These  Friday  night 
discourses  bring  me  back  to  the  simplicity  of  the  Gospel. 
They  leave,  also,  a  sweet  tincture  of  purity  upon  my  spirit ; 


204 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


— make  me  feel  with  one,  "I  had  rather  be  holy  than  be 
eloquent;"  a  sentiment  that  finds  a  sweet  response  within 
me  this  morning. 

Feb.  2d.  Monday. — Satan's  captives  are  extensively  in 
trouble.  It  is  evident  he  is  fearing  a  wholesale  rescue.  To 
have  them  damned  without  rescue,  was  his  hope.  Our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  takes  pleasure  in  rendering  Satan  hope- 
less in  more  ways  than  one!    Glorious  scenes  yesterday! 

Have  just  returned  from  a  walk; — not  joyful,  but  a 
sweetness  in  spirit; — a  good  thought  that,  that  my  happy 
days  have  far  exceeded  my  unhappy  ones,  thus  far  in  my 
Christian  pilgrimage; — and  my  peaceful  times  have  been 
much  longer  in  continuance  than  my  times  of  war; — and 
my  seasons  of  prosperity  more  numerous  than  those  of 
adversity; — that  my  great  troubles,  like  days  in  winter, 
have  been  short,  and,  like  stormy  days,  few; — and  my 
happy  days,  like  summer  days,  long,  and,  like  fair  and 
pleasant  days,  many,  and  by  far  the  greatest  in  number, 
through  all  the  years  of  my  spiritual  life,  hitherto !  Praise 
the  Lord !  And  would  it  not  have  been  otherwise,  had  not 
my  gracious  Lord  sanctified  my  soul  in  1831? 

5j!  ^  ^  *  ^  *  ^ 

A  gracious  time  at  the  sacrament.  What  a  cloud  of 
communicants,  scores,  if  not  hundreds,  of  whom  had  never 
commemorated  the  Lord's  death  before ! 

It  has  done  my  own  soul  good; — I  feel  stronger, — as 
if  new  life,  vigor,  and  zeal,  had  been  infused  into  my  soul. 
I  usually  feel  so  after  partaking  of  the  sacrament,  and  for 
weeks. 

In  ancient  times,  before  battle,  they  used  to  show  the 
blood  of  grapes  and  mulberries  to  the  war  elephants,  to 
4iiake  them  more  fierce  in  battle.    Well,  a  sight  of  these 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


205 


sacred  emblems  of  the  broken  body  and  shed  blood  of  my 
Lord  stimulates  my  soul  wonderfully  to  fight  his  battles, 
and  gain  victories ! 

Birmingham,  Feb.  6,  1846. 

"Toiling  on."  To  be  sure !  For  what  purpose  did  I 
enter  the  vineyard  of  my  Lord,  but  to  work?  Certainly 
not  to  have  a  life  of  ease,  nor  to  play,  or  to  amuse  myself 
or  others!  For  what  did  I  join  the  army  of  Immanuel? 
To  fight,  or  enjoy  an  inglorious  ease?  To  idle  away  my 
time?  Nay,  my  dear  friend,  but  to  fight  his  battles,  and 
to  endure  hardness  as  a  good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ !  Or, 
if  you  will  allow  me  the  use  of  another  figure,  for  what  did 
I  enter  the  lists  upon  the  great  race-ground  of  preachers? 
To  run  for  the  prize,  or  to  sit  still  and  lounge  ?  Nay,  but 
to  run  for  the  prize, — a  double  prize, — heaven  and  souls. 
Well,  then,  while  I  have  breath  in  me,  let  me  never  lose 
the  spirit  of  this !  While  I  have  health,  may  I  never  cease 
running  for  such  a  prize, — Souls !  While  life  and  health 
do  last,  O,  may  I  work,  fight,  run! — true  to  my  principles 
laid  down  in  the  onset;  to  which  the  heart  of  my  fearful 
friend  cannot  help  saying,  "Amen !" 

Birmingham,  Feb.  17. 

Laboring  on  with  all  my  might,  to  make  sin  bitter,  that 
the  Gospel  may  be  sweet  to  the  sinner.  Never  can  the 
Gospel  be  made  truly  sweet  until  the  sinner  is  made  to 
know  and  feel  that  it  is  an  evil  thing  and  a  bitter  to  sin 
against  God. — ^Jer.  2 :  19.  Nor  is  Christ  ever  sweet  till  sin 
is  turned  into  wormwood.  Nor  does  Christ  give  rest  to 
any,  but  to  these  who  feel  sin  to  be  a  burden.  It  is  to 
those  who  labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  Jesus  gives  the  in- 
vitation to  come  to  him  and  find  rest,  as  we  see  in  Matt. 
11:28, 


206 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


He  invites  the  heavy  laden  to  come  unto  him;. those  to 
whom  the  sense  of  unpardoned  sin  is  a  burden  too  heavy 
to  be  borne.  It  is  my  business,  then,  to  load  them  down 
quickly  as  possible. 

Well,  I  have  been  trying  hard  so  to  do;  and  to  make 
the  past  and  present  sins  of  every  sinner  bitter, — ay,  as 
wormwood,  that  the  name  of  Jesus  may  be  sweet  and  de- 
sirable, and  sin  heavy, — ay,  as  Byron  said  of  it,  as  a  moun- 
tain of  lead  upon  the  heart ! — that  they  may  be  more  anx- 
ious to  get  rid  of  their  burden!  After  doing  my  best  to 
bring  all  this  about,  I  then  preach  unto  them  Jesus;  and, 
O,  how  sweet  he  is  to  their  souls,  and  also  to  mine !  For, 
in  making  sin  bitter  and  heavy  to  them,  I  cannot  help 
thinking  of  my  own, — sins  of  my  youth  and  childhood, — 
sins  before  my  conversion  and  after, — and  much  unfaith- 
fulness in  the  past;  and,  though  my  conscience  is  assured 
of  pardon,  yet  it  would  relapse  into  uneasiness  and  the 
spirit  of  bondage  again  to  fear,  if  not  met  by  a  returning 
faith  in  that  blood  that  has  washed  them  all  away.  And 
so,  when  Jesus  has  thus  become  their  Savior  and  mine,  O, 
what  an  ocean  of  sweetness  do  we  all  find  in  that  won- 
drous name !   And,  then,  how  sweetly  do  we  all  sing : 

"Blest  with  the  scorn  of  finite  good, 
My  soul  is  lightened  of  her  loAd, 
And  seeks  the  things  above. 

The  things  eternal  I  pursue, 
A  happiness  beyond  the  view 

Of  those  who  basely  pant 
For  things  by  nature  felt  and  seen; 
Their  honors,  wealth,  and  pleasures  mean, 

I  neither  have  nor  want!" 

Had  a  very  awful  time  on  the  day  of  judgment,  the 
other  night,  in  Wesley  Chapel. — Rev.  20:  11,  13.  When 
describing  "the  books"  that  shall  be  opened  on  that  great 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


207 


day,  I  noticed  the  Book  of  Privileges ;— where  the  con- 
denlned  sinner  Hved  and  died; — the  light  under  which  he 
sinned; — ^the  means  of  salvation  within  his  reach; — the 
sermons  he  heard,  or  might  have  heard,  had  he  pleased. 
Here  an  idea  of  Horne,  which  I  had  read  many  years  ago, 
occurred  to  me, — that,  on  this  great  and  terrible  day  of 
God,  the  sinner  will  be  held  as  accountable  for  what  he 
might  have  known,  as  for  what  he  did  know ; — that,  among 
all  the  subjects  which  might  be  said  to  belong  to  specu- 
lative theology,  there  is  none  more  terrible  than  this. 

Language  of  unusual  power,  with  vividness  of  thought, 
were  given  me  at  this  moment,  such  as  I  may  never,  pos- 
sibly, have  again ; — was  enabled  to  climb  to  heights  which 
commanded  much  of  the  judgment  scene ;  and  the  vast 
congregation  climibed  with  me, — not  one  appeared  to  be 
left  behind ; — and,  when  at  a  certain  point,  and  a  precipice 
formed,  the  alarming  thought  that  condemned  men,  in  the 
judgment,  shall  have  to  account  to  God  for  what  they 
might  have  known,  as  well  as  for  what  they  did  know, — 
O,  it  seemed  as  if  we  were  all  going  over  the  precipice  to- 
gether ! — till  the  feelings  of  the  multitude  gave  way,  in  one 
terrible  convulsed  cry !  O,  I  cannot  describe  it ! — it  was 
like  the  rushing  sound  of  many  waters, — crashing  and 
breaking  through  dams  and  embankments,  and  all  oppos- 
ing barriers ;  till  there  were  groans,  and  shouts,  and  cries, 
like  the  voices  of  the  judgment !  It  was  as  if  that  day  of 
terrors  had  really  opened  upon  us,  "and  all  beneath  the 
cope  of  heaven  in  flames," — the  risen  dead  assembled,  the 
judgment  set,  and  the  books  opened! 

Never  had  I  such  a  time  upon  .the  last  judgment;  never 
saw  such  an  effect  produced  by  it.  The  prayer-meeting  at 
the  close  was  glorious  in  results.    O,  how  evident  it  ap- 


208 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


peared  to  me  that  "the  times  and  seasons"  for  such  extra- 
ordinary manifestations  "the  Father  hath  put  in  his  own 
power Acts  i :  7.    But,  doubtless,  did  I  but  wallc  as  ' 
closely  and  as  steadily  with  God  as  he  requires,  such  visi- 
tations from  on  high  would  neither  be  few  nor  far  between. 

Feb.  14th.  Over  one  hundred  and  fifty  souls  saved 
since  last  date. 

HoHness  last  night.  For  an  application,  Mark  11 :  24 
is  mighty.  "What  things  soever  ye  desire  when  ye  pray, 
believe  that  ye  receive,  and  ye  shall  have."  It  is,  indeed, 
one  of  the  exceeding  great  and  precious  promises,  by 
which  we  are  made  partakers  of  the  divine  nature. — 2  Peter 
1:4.  It  demands  of  the  soul  immediate  honor  to  the  ver- 
acity of  Jesus.  It  shames  unbelief,  and  amazingly  humbles 
the  tardy  professor;  he  who  boasted  so  much  of  his  "Prot- 
estant faith,"  which  "had  ever  honored  the  veracity  of  God 
in  the  Holy  Scriptures,"  but  now  finds  it  very  hard  to  put 
implicit  confidence  in  the  veracity  of  Jesus !  Poor  soul ! 
it  is  well  if  anything  will  open  his  eyes  to  that  cursed  un- 
behef  which  reigns  in  his  heart.  Cursed  it  is  of  God,  and 
a  curse  it  is  to  the  soul  of  him  who  indulges  it. 

The  glory  of  God  does  rest  over  Birmingham !  Multi- 
tudes hear  the  voice  of  God  within  them,  calHng  them  to 
repentance;  and  scores  and  hundreds  very  lately  have 
hearkened,  obeyed,  and  turned  to  the  Lord.  Great  is  the 
rejoicing  among  God's  people ;  and  great  their  power  with 
God,  and  with  men! 

"Birmingham. — The  Rev.  James  Caughey  continues  his 
labors  in  this  town  with  increasing  interest  and  success. 
Last  week,  although  in  one  of  the  smaller  chapels,  name- 
ly, Islington,  the  number  of  names  given  in,  as  obtaining 
pardoning  mercy  or  sanctifying  grace,  exceeded  any  form- 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY.  209 

er  week  in  this  town.  Many  conversions  of  an  extraordi- 
nary character  have  been  effected;  restitutions  have  been 
engaged  to  be  made ;  unholy  alliances  are  being  succeeded 
by  marriage ;  and  some  are  afraid  to  come  under  the  sound 
of  his  voice.  But,  while  his  appeals  are  so  terrific  and 
alarming  to  the  obstinate  and  persevering  sinner,  his  per- 
suasive encouragements  are  equally  delightful  to  the  re- 
penting and  returning  sinner;  the  weak  get  strengthened 
and  encouraged,  believers  sanctified,  and  the  work  of  God 
is  going  on  gloriously.  We  hope  the  revival  here  begun 
will  be  continued.  Ministers  and  local  preachers  are  par- 
taking of  the  reviving  influence.  What  should  hinder  the 
continued  progress  of  the  work  of  God,  if  the  same  untir- 
ing energy  and  self-denying  zeal  and  faithfulness  be  mani- 
fested in  the  discharge  of  duty?  Is  God  partial  to  his 
workmen?  Does  he  not  say  to  all  his  commissioned  serv- 
ants, 'Go  ye  into  all  the  world,'  etc.;  and,  Xo,  I  am  with 
you,'  etc.?  We  want  to  get  nearer  to  God,  and  to  possess 
more  of  heavenly  influence  in  our  own  souls,  to  be  emi- 
nently successful.  An  honest  Yorkshireman  was  asked 
why  it  was  that  Mr.  C'.'s  labors  were  rendered  so  remark- 
ably beneficial.  *0,'  was  the  reply,  'he  lives  next  door  to 
heaven,  and  they  acquaint  him  with  secrets  that  they  don't 
let  everybody  know.'  " 

March  loth. — Gloomy.  "Why  art  thou  cast  down,  O 
my  soul" — and  yet  have  flashes  of  joy,  and  all  gloom 
again?  Why  is  this?  But  the  work  of  God  advances  in 
power.  The  numbers  saved  in  both  blessings,  pardon  and 
purity,  up  till  this  time,  is  about  twenty-three  hundred, 
eighteen  hundred  of  whom  are  persons  who  have  obtained 
pardoning  mercy.  Blessed  be  God!  and  the  glory  be  un- 
to Him  alone,  forever  more,  amen! 


210 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


March  nth. — How  a  worn-down  body  affects  the 
mind !  It  illustrates  that  idea  of  one,  that  a  mower  who 
has  a  good  scythe,  can  do  more  in  one  day,  than  he  that 
has  a  bad  one  can  do  in  two;  and  that  every  traveller 
knows  the  difference  between  a  cheerful  and  a  tired  horse. 
But  the  Lord  reigneth. 

March  12th. — Take  care,  my  soul! — finery  again! — 
tinsel ! — away  with  it  I  That  was  not  Wesley's  style,  but 
good,  plain,  sturdy  English.    That  is  what  is  wanted  in 

Birmingham.    Did  it  escape  you  how  the  children  at  

admired  the  books  with  the  beautiful  covers,  and  pretty 
pictures,  while  they  cared  nothing  for  the  reading  in  them? 
But  there  are  hearers  plenty  who  treat  sermons  thus.  O, 
for  point  and  power !  that  which  penetrates  the  conscience, 
though  it  kill  admiration!  Amen. 

March  i8th. — Sinners  are  breaking  down  on  every 
hand ;  and  some  most  unlikely  cases ! 

Accountability  to  God,  now,  and  after  death,  is  one 
great  anchor-hold  of  the  Spirit  in  man.  I  find  great  ad- 
vantage in  taking  fast  hold  there,  in  bringing  the  sinner 
to  God.  Drop  anchor  there,  if  possible,  and  you  have  the 
sinner.  Harpoon  him  there,  if  need  be,  and  his  whole 
weight  will  soon  be  felt  upon  the  line.  He  may  flounce 
and  flounder,  and  dive  into  the  mud  of  infidelity  and  error, 
and  make  a  great  noise,  and  go  off  among  his  compan- 
ions in  a  tangent,  turning  all  his  element  into  foam;  but, 
if  the  harpoon  has  stuck  fast  in  the  right  place,  and  holds 
fast,  he  will  soon  reappear,  and  be  drawn  alongside,  as 
the  whalers  speak ! 

March  23d. — The  church  of  God  has  become  a  mov- 
ing flame  of  fire,  into  whatsoever  chapel  she  enters !  How 
little  can  be  done  when  she  is  not !    But  who  may  set  lim- 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


211 


its  to  her  influence  when  she  is  thus !  Three  or  four  score 
of  sinners  saved  on  Sabbath,  and  half  as  many  sanctified! 

April  3d. — The  Love  Feast  was  excellent.  The  new 
converts  talked  Hke  new  creatures,  indeed! 

"In  joy  triumphant,  sorrow  flowH." 

Had  some  noble  testimonies  to  the  blessing  of  perfect  love. 
The  spies  of  old  (Numb.  13 :  23)  brought  out  of  Canaan 
grapes,  pomegranates,  and  figs,  such  as  Israel  had  never 
laid  eyes  on  before ;  and  they  reported  that  it  was,  indeed, 
a  land  flowing  with  milk  and  honey ;  but  they  also  reported 
evil  of  the  land,  of  the  strength  of  their  walled  cities,  and 
giant-like  population,  among  whom  they  felt  themselves 
but  as  grasshoppers,  and  set  the  people  a  murmuring. 

But  these  sanctified  souls  exhibited  the  fruit,  and  said, 
with  Caleb,  "Let  us  go  up  at  once  and  possess  it;  for  we 
are  well  able  to  overcome  it."  The  resolved  multitude 
one  and  all  exclaiming: 

"Rejoicing  now  in  earnest  hope, 
I  stand,  and  from  the  mountain  top 

See  all  the  land  below; 
Rivers  of  milk  and  honey  rise, 
Aad  all  the  fruits  of  Paradise 

In  endless  plenty  grow." 

While  not  a  few  sorrowing  ones  mournfully  ejacu- 
lated : 

"O,  that  I  might  at  once  go  up! 
No  more  on  this  side  Jordan  stop, 

But  now  the  land  possess; 
This  moment  end  my  legal  years; 
Sorrows  and  sins,  and  doubts,  and  fears, 

A  howling  wilderness." 

Those  who  enjoyed  the  blessing  greatly  encouraged 
and  strengthened  each  other.  The  fellowship  of  purified 
minds  is  a  holy  alliance!  for  it  is  by  this  that  Holiness 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


strengthens  and  reinforces  itself. 

******** 

The  whole  production  displays  considerable  talent,  but 
this  polite  breath  of  opposition  will  only  serve  to  fan  the 
glorious  flame,  that  is  consuming  sin  of  every  sort,  where- 
ever  it  sweeps !  It  seizes  upon  everything  that  stands  in 
its  way; — ten,  fifteen,  or  twenty,  saved  every  night,  and 
scores  on  the  Sabbath  days, — of  all  ages  and  classes,  chief- 
ly from  fifteen  to  thirty-five,  and  up  to  seventy!  Great 
is  our  God,  and  great  and  marvellous  his  goodness  to  the 
children  of  men.  Blessed  be  his  name!  And  blessed  be 
his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  Lord  of  all,  and  sees  of  the 
travail  of  his  soul  and  is  satisfied!  And  blessed  be  the 
Holy  Ghost,  that  worketh  the  counsel  of  his  will  so  won- 
derfully !  Amen. 

April  3d. — "Courage !"  Yes !  indeed,  courage  is  Indis- 
pensable in  such  a  work  as  this ;  and  must  be  maintained 
at  any  cost !  What  a  French  officer  remarked  in  a  letter 
to  a  friend,  when  with  Napoleon  in  the  campaign  in  Egypt, 
is  not  inapplicable.  "Here  we  need  courage,  not  only  of 
the  head,  but  of  the  heart  and  the  soul."  But  Jesus  never 
fails  me.  His  grace  is  always  equal  to  my  day.  As  my 
day  is,  so  is  my  strength,  as  the  promise  runs. — Deut.  33 : 
25. 

The  world  is  of  the  opinion,  says  a  great  writer,  that 
the  end  of  fencing  is  to  hit ;  that  the  end  of  medicine  is  to 
cure,  and  that  the  end  of  war  is  to  conquer ;  and  that  those 
means  are  the  most  correct  which  best  accomplish  the 
ends.  A  better  reply  could  not  be  given,  with  regard  to 
the  subject  on  hand;  besides,  the  number  of  the  hit  that 
spread  the  ground  must  have  decided  that  in  your  judg- 
ment ;  and  the  number  of  the  cured  and  the  conquered ! 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


213 


And  Mr.    was  really  hit  himself.    There  is  no 

doubt  of  that,  although  he  made  out  to  get  away;  and 
days  passed  away  before  he  ventured  again  within  range 
of  our  shot.  Nor  would  he  have  come  again,  but  that 
the  wound  in  the  conscience  would  not  heal.  An  "apol- 
ogy" would  have  been  a  poor  plaster.  It  was  not  to  be 
hoped  for,  unless  the  preacher  could  be  convinced  he  was 
in  the  wrong;  or  that  the  "random  shot"  was  anything 
else  than  what  one  called  "a  conglomeration"  of  truth. 
If  he  will  keep  coming,  he  will  get  a  better  plaster  for  his 
conscience  than  an  apology  from  me,  even  an  application 
of  that  blood  that  cleanseth  from  all  sin. — i  John  i :  7. 

It  requires  courage  to  incur  such  hard  epithets;  but 
my  Lord  had  worse.  Erasmus  said  to  the  opponents  of 
Luther,  "Nothing  is  easier  than  to  call  Luther  a  block- 
head, but  nothing  is  more  difficult  than  to  prove  him  one !" 
Nothing  is  easier  than  to  coin  such  epithets,  nothing 
harder  than  to  prove  their  just  applicability!  Nothing  is 
easier  than  to  call  such  and  such  teaching  false,  nothing 
harder  than  to  prove  that  it  is  really  so. 

The  church  must  be  in  the  field,  to  war  against  sin 
and  wickedness ;  else  God  will  enter  the  church,  and  war 
against  it.  Then  woe  be  unto  the  church!  Nor  can  the 
church  of  God  ever  be  enriched  with  all  the  riches  of  God, 
till  she  is  pure  within, — "all  glorious  within,"  as  the  king's 
daughter, — and  pure  from  the  blood  of  souls — warring  as 
she  ought  against  the  works  of  darkness ! 

It  will,  indeed,  never  be  well  with  the  world,  until  it 
beats  its  swords  into  ploughshares,  and  its  spears  into 
pruning-hooks,  and  learns  the  art  of  war  no  more.  On 
the  contrary,  it  is  never  so  well  with  the  churcH,  as  wfien 
her  swords  and  spears  are  in  active  hostilities  against  all 


214 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION, 


the  powers  of  sin  and  Satan !  Aggression  is  the  life  of 
the  church,  and  the  grand  means  of  her  true  aggrandize- 
ment. God  help  me,  sir!  I  am  endeavoring  to  carry  out 
these  principles  with  all  my  heart,  and  with  all  my  soul; 
and  shall,  I  trust,  till  my  Great  Captain  sounds  my  retreat 
from  the  battle-field  of  life! 

Byron,  speaking  of  a  fascinating  preacher,  hints  that 
"he  gained  more  hearts  than  souls ;" — a  striking  distinc- 
tion !  Alas !  it  is  to  be  feared,  there  is  much  of  this  sort 
of  thing  going  on  among  the  Christian  churches.  It  is 
a  mighty  cause  of  spiritual  death  wherever  it  occurs.  This 
Dagon  must  be  made  to  fall  before  the  ark  of  God! — 
again  and  again  it  must  fall,  till  not  even  "the  stump"  of 
the  abominable  thing  remains ! — i  Sam.  5 :  4. 

Our  earth  presents  many  a  sad  sight ;  but  the  saddest, 
I  sometimes  think,  is  where  self  has  the  ascendency  in  the 
house  of  God, — in  the  pulpit.  It  is  not  only  bringing  ruin 
upon  itself,  but  blight  and  death  upon  the  church  of  God. 
The  Head  of  the  church  will  surely  contend  with  it;  for 
he  hath  said,  "My  glory  I  will  not  give  to  another."  That 
is  his  fixed  purpose, — his  unchangeable  decree ; — a  pur- 
pose, a  decree,  that  awakens  the  echoes  of  heaven  with, 
"Thou  art  worthy,  O  Lord,  to  receive  glory,  and  honor, 
and  power"  (Rev.  4:  11),  and  vibrates  in  judgments  upon 
the  earth.  May  our  God  preserve  me,  and  all  his  minis- 
ters, from  this  inward  Achan  of  an  unsanctified  self! 
Amen. 

Very  true.  There  was  no  peace  for  the  unsaved  that 
night ! — no,  nor  rest  in  my  bones ! — no !  for  rebellion 
against  the  Holy  Spirit  was  rife ; — and  how  could  there  be 
peace?   To  them,  and  to  the  troubled  preacher,  another 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


215 


Jehu  might  have  said,  "What  hast  thou  to  do  with  peace?" 
— 2  Kings  9:  19.  Ay!  "tongue,  eyes,  hands,  arms,  body, 
— all  warlike, — so  unlike  an  ambassador  of  the  Prince  of 
peace."  And  might  I  not  say  to  thee,  as  the  stripling 
David  to  his  brother  Eliab  in  the  camp  of  Saul,  "What 
have  I  now  done?  Is  there  not  a  cause?" — i  Sam.  17: 
28,  29.  Cause !  yes,  sufficient  to  stir  the  heart  of  the  arch- 
angel Gabriel! 

Ay !  all  was  "violent  and  warlike"  enough ; — many  an 
alarmed  and  wounded  sinner  felt  the  truth  of  that.  Nei- 
ther self  nor  subject  were  "burdened  with  the  loadstone 
of  attraction,  but  repulsion  with  a  vengeance."  Very  true 
again!  but  how  did  you  account  for  the  fact,  that  so  many 
scores  of  distressed  sinners,  of  all  ages,  clustered  around 
me,  with  tears  and  cries,  and  would  not  go  away?  Did 
that  look  like  repulsion? 

Ah!  my  "Friend,"  truth  is  a  more  powerful  loadstone 
than  flattery.  But  it  cut  through  all  concealment,  like  a 
very  sword;  and  loaded  many  a  terror-stricken  conscience 
with  a  weight  of  misery  and  guilt  too  heavy  to  be  borne. 
In  this  sense,  there  was  a  loading  indeed, — a  fearful  load- 
ing,— something  like  what  the  damned  in  hell  feel,  only 
there  were  hopes  of  mercy.  O,  what  a  piling  up  of  sen- 
tences of  condemnation !  O,  what  a  region  of  alarm  was 
that  of  many  a  soul !  O,  what  fearful  outcries !  And 
yet,  what  expressions  of  hope  and  confidence  in  divine 
mercy  through  Jesus  Christ ! — 

"Though   my   sins   as  mountain  rise, 

And  swell  and  reach  to  heaven, 
Mercy  is  above  the  skies, 

I  may  be  still  forgiven: 
Infinite  niy  sins  increase. 

But  greater  i&  thy  mercy's  store; 
Love  me  freely,  seal  my  -peace. 

And  bid  me  sin  no  more." 


216 


OLD  T?IME  RELIGION. 


Be  it  so,  then,  that  all  was  ''repulsion,"  yet  you  are  a 
witness  how  that  the  slashes  of  the  sword  of  divine  truth, 
which  reached  unto  the  soul,  did  the  work  required  by  the 
Gospel  most  effectually.  You  did  not  wait  till  the  close 
of  the  prayer-meeting,  most  likely;  but  if  you  had,  you  . 
would  have  acknowledged  that  they  had  not  mourned  and 
prayed  and  wept  in  vain,  nor  the  preacher  and  his  helpers 
labored  in  vain.  Hallelujah! 

*  *  *         *         *         sK  * 

April  9th. — My  Birthday.  Thankful  for  the  past,  trust- 
ing my  gracious  Lord  with  and  for  all  my  future.  Many 
reminiscences.  The  book  of  Providence,  like  Hebrew  let- 
ters, must  be  read  backwards,  upon  earth  and  in  heaven; 
— a  very  profitable  study.  Have  enjoyed  a  sweet  walk, 
singing  over  and  over  again,  with  tears,  that  sweet  stanza 
of  Mr.  Wesley : 

*'Wliat  thou  hast  done  I  kno'v  not  mow, 

Suffice  I  shall  hereafter  know; 
Help  me  my  sinful  head  to  bow; 

That  still  I  live,  to  thee  I  owe: 
O,  teach  thy  deeply  humbled  son. 

Father,  to  say,  thy  will  be  donel" 

The  work  of  God  does  not  flag.  But,  weak  as  I  feel, 
and  humbled  to  the  dust  as  my  soul  is  before  God  in  pri- 
vate, always,  yet  in  public,  he  does  cause  "the  sword  of 
truth  to  gleam  like  his  own  lightning!"  O,  he  does! 
Blessed  be  his  name ! 

April  loth. — Preaching,  like  life,  should  be  direct,  not 
circular, — but  direct  and  progressive.  Beware  of  this  cir- 
cumlocution and  wordiness;  cure  it  at  once.  However, 
that  was  a  strong  point,  and  worthy  of  a  larger  place  in 
a  future  discourse ; — that  those  who  will  not  weep  over  a 
sinning  friend,  let  them  prepare  to  weep  over  a  dying 
friend — those  who  cannot  mourn  over  an  unconverted  rel- 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


217 


ative,  may  soon  be  called  to  mourn  over  a  buried  relative, 
— that  the  Christian  world  is  full  of  such  cases ; — that  sin- 
ning on,  without  repentance  or  conversion,  is  sure  to 
shorten  the  days  of  the  sinner; — that,  for  a  professed  fol- 
lower of  Christ  to  stand  and  look  on,  without  prayers  and 
tears  for  their  salvation,  is  pretty  sure  to  be  followed  up 
by  such  a  painful  retribution. 

The  whole  town  seems  moved.  The  confederations  of 
sin  are  in  considerable  confusion ;  at  their  wits'  end,  some 
of  them ! — to  preserve  themselves  from  dissolution.  Error' 
flies  before  the  revival,  as  chaff  before  the  wind.  Draw- 
ing-room circles  are  in  an  amaze.  Bar-rooms  and  beer- 
shops,  here  and  there,  are  vocal  with  lonely  grumblers. 
The  wicked  are  fretting  and  fuming,  and  the  pamphleteer- 
ing presses  are  groaning  for  them,  poor  souls! — ay,  loud 
as  their  poor  consciences  are  groaning  for  themselves. 

However,  we  have  vast  masses  of  the  people  on  our 
side.  The  Wesleyans,  generally,  are  true;  though  some 
shrink,  and  query  what  all  this  is  coming  to ;  and  whether 
the  church  of  God  shall  be  able  to  wash  her  face  and  robes 
clean,  after  all  this  bespattering  from  the  wicked.  They 
can  bear  to  read  how  that  the  face  of  Jesus  was  covered 
with  the  spittle  of  the  ungodly,  and  his  person  arrayed  in 
a  mock  robe,  etc.,  etc.;  but,  to  have  the  church  of  their 
choice  despised  and  mocked,  is  too  much  for  their  pride 
or  humility. 

This  is  no  time  to  falter.  It  is  truth  and  the  effects  of 
truth  they  are  quarrelling  with,  and  with  me  for  setting 
it  on  against  their  consciences ;  and  yet,  what  could  it  or 
the  preacher  have  done,  but  for  the  Holy  Spirit  who  ap- 


218 


*  OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


plied  it?  I  must  stand  by  the  truth,  then,  and  stand  or 
fall  with  it;  let  it  have  an  open  field  and  fair  play.  If 
this  is  my  cross,  it  must  be  taken  up,  and  borne  along 
with  courage  and  faithfulness.  Luther  says,  "Every  true 
saint  is  heir  to  the  cross and  I  have  come  into  the  pos- 
session of  mine  with  some  joy  and  power. 

April  19th. — The  art  of  war  is  best  learned  in  actual 
war.  It  is  upon  the  field  of  battle  where  rules,  tactics  and 
artillery,  are  tested;  the  effectiveness  of  this  battery  or 
that;  and  the  wisdom  or  folly  of  this  and  that  position. 
A  change  of  position,  upon  the  part  of  the  enemy,  often 
renders  them  all  useless. 

It  is  thus  in  preaching,  which  is  truly  a  great  pitched 
battle  for  the  rescue  of  precious  souls ;  especially  when 
continued  for  months  together.  Sermons  of  mine,  which 
appeared  very  well  in  private,  and  likely,  as  spiritual  bat- 
teries, to  rake  the  ranks  of  the  enemy  tremendously,  the 
positions  being  the  best  imaginable ;  but,  alas !  when 
brought  into  action,  were  quite  useless,  and  I  have  lost 
the  day  by  sticking  to  them.  Whereas,  I  have  won  many 
a  day  by  abandoning  them  at  once;  and,  seizing  upon 
some  "rough,  crooked  cudgel  of  truth,  or  other,"  as  a 
crazy  man  hinted,  and  storm  the  altered  entrenchments  of 
wickedness. 

What  was  the  use  of  firing  away  from  that  battery, 
when  the  shot  curved  high  over  the  heads  of  sinners,  or 
fell  far  short  of  their  entrenchments?  It  ought  to  have 
been  abandoned  before  wasting  so  much  time  and 
strength.  I  have  erred  so  often  here,  it  is  strange  I  have 
not  yet  acquired  common  sense.  When  the  proper  bat- 
teries were  heaved  up  for  my  acceptance,  I  had  neither 
time  nor  strength  to  play  them  upon  the  enemy;  had 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


219 


wasted  both  in  working  those  which  were  ineffectual ! 

April  21  St. — How  much  one  learns  in  a  revival,  of  hu- 
man nature,  of  the  providence  of  God  in  preparing  the 
way  for  this  and  that  conversion !  How  evidently  Provi- 
dence has  been  at  work  to  bring  about  the  salvation  of 
many  of  these ;  with  some  for  years ; — has  had  to  almost 
break  their  heart  by  trying  providences,  before  their  proud 
will  could  be  broken  down  to  repent  and  believe!  So 
goes  it  with  the  world ;  and  an  "Almighty  Providence"  is, 
indeed,  an  "exceeding  thought,"  and  its  chastisements  ex- 
ceed all  we  know  of  them,  till  development  by  a  great  re- 
vival. 

April  22d. — I  seldom  weep  in  the  pulpit,  though  my 
eyes  frequently  fill,  and  swim  a  little ;  but  tears  do  not 
often  trickle  down.  I  like  to  feel  them ;  it  is  a  great  com- 
fort to  feel  that  my  springs  are  not  dry,  nor  the  fountain 
of  tears  dried  up. — Hosea  13:  15.  But,  O,  how  delicious- 
ly  sweet  are  tears,  when  in  secret  audience  with  God! 
Some  one  remarked  that  sugar  is  sweetest  when  it  melts, 
and  that  when  the  religion  of  a  Christian  dissolves  into 
tears  of  gratitude  and  thanksgiving  it  is  the  sweetest  of 
all. 

April  29th. — Felt  I  was  going  on  an  errand  for  God; 
— ^an  errand  implies  a  message ; — had  a  message  from  him 
to  poor  hell-exposed  sinners;  felt  I  was  going  on  an  er- 
rand for  Him,  and  knew  with  what,  and  for  what.  What 
boldness  and  confidence  this  conviction  gives !  But  it  often 
brings  trouble  as  a  consequence.  People  do  not  under- 
stand it.  There  is  no  way  to  make  the  errand  agreeable, 
and  the  consequences  easy  to  be  borne,  but  to  aim  at 
pleasing  God  fully  therein.  Then  every  word  is  heart- 
deep,  in  preacher  and  hearer;   or  as  a  strong-minded 


220 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


Scotchman  observed,  "then  comes  the  nailing  of  the  sub- 
ject to  the  wall."  The  slain  of  the  Lord  were  many.  The 
nail  of  truth,  if  it  did  not  pin  them  to  the  wall,  it  did  to 
the  floor,  as  did  the  nail,  in  the  hand  of  Jael's  wife,  the 
head  of  Sisera. 

May  3d. — He  that  would  continue  to  save  souls,  I 
find,  must  not  depart  from  first  principles ; — he  must  dwell 
much  on  first  principles, — the  essentials  of  Christianity. 
This,  some,  whose  heads  have  out-travelled  their  hearts, 
do  not  like;  they  want  variety  and  novelty,  and  something 
to  gratify  curiosity  in  doctrine.  To  meet  their  case,  one 
would  need  another  Gospel  than  Paul  preached.  Shall  I 
pander  to  such  a  taste?  Nay,  by  the  grace  of  God,  never! 
O,  never  may  I  live  to  prove  to  sinful  men  that  I  think 
the  Gospel  has  become  stale  and  uninteresting,  and,  there- 
fore, must  lay  the  sciences  under  contribution,  to  make 
the  Gospel  bearable  or  palatable;  and,  as  it  were,  work 
another  Gospel,  than  Christ  crucified,  out  of  them,  or  a 
diluted  Gospel,  or  mongrel !  The  present  age  is  a  tempter 
to  this,  and,  it  is  to  be  feared,  too  frequently  succeeds. 

That  deprecation  of  the  apostle  is  a  powerful  antidote 
to  me:  "But  God  forbid  that  I  should  glory,  save  in  the 
cross  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  whom  the  world  is 
crucified  to  me,  and  I  unto  the  world." — Gal.  6:  14.  St. 
Paul  never  interposed  a  "God.  forbid!"  but  upon  some 
point  of  the  highest  importance, — and  he  used  the  phrase 
on  several  occasions.  The  scenes  are  amazing  here! 
Glory  be  to  God! 

May  4th.- — The  sun,  and  moon,  and  stars,  are  some- 
times nearer  to  the  earth  than  at  other  times.  Eternity, 
with  its  Heaven,  and  Hell,  and  Spirits,  looms  up,  and 
sweeps  nearer  to  men  during  a  revival,  I  sometimes  think, 


Revivals  under  caughe^y. 


221 


than  during  any  other  portion  of  the  history  of  a  popula- 
tion ;  so  near,  I  often  feel,  as  if  one  could  almost  hear  the 
shouts  of  the  glorified  saints  in  heaven,  and  the  wailings 
of  the  damned  in  hell. 

It  is  then  the  power  of  God  is  felt;  and  the  truth  of 
God  rushes  out  upon  sinners,  like  the  lion  upon  the  chil- 
dren of  Ephraim!  and  cries  for  mercy  ascend  from  the 
smitten  and  the  torn;  and  shouts  of  deliverance  from  the 
healed  and  the  saved.  Such  is  the  state  of  things  in  Birm- 
ingham at  the  present  time.  Hallelujah! 

May  5th. — What  a  necessity  for  a  storming  time  that 
was!  Ordinary  effort  would  have  been  of  no  avail,  but 
Satan's  triumph.  But  how  important  to  be  ready  for  such 
a  divine  intimation!  One  should  not  have  his  heart  or 
wit,  or  courage,  to  seek  at  such  a  moment;  no,  nor  his 
weapons,  nor  his  faith ! 

May  8th. — A  letter  from  my  Liverpool  host,  Mr.  Ban- 
ning, of  the  Liverpool  Post  Office.  He  says,  "The  news- 
papers are  determined, — perhaps  not  intentionally,  but 
nevertheless  are  doing  that  which  produces  it, — to  increase 
your  popularity,  and  thereby  your  usefulness ; — the  state- 
ments of  'The  Morning  Chronicle,'  have  circulated  in  all 
the  newspapers  of  the  United  Kingdom,  nearly,  I  should 
think !" 

Amen!  let  them  write,  and  print,  and  circulate,  and 
make  me  out  the  greatest  fool  or  knave  that  lives ; — what 
of  that,  if  I  am  neither  a  fool  nor  a  knave?  What  care  I, 
if  the  work  of  God  but  go  on,  and  my  conscience  feels  sure 
of  his  approbation? 

Persecution! — of  the  pen,  of  the  tongue, — what  signi- 
fies all  we  are  called  to  endure  in  this  age,  however  hu- 
miliating, compared  with  what  the  saints  of  other  days  have 


222 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


endured  from  the  hands  of  the  ungodly? — as  the  tickling  of 
flies,  when  compared  with  the  stings  of  wasps — nay,  as  the 
stings  of  wasps,  when  compared  with  the  strokes  of  the  scor- 
pions! They  bore  the  cross,  indeed,  upon  bare,  bleeding 
and  lacerated  shoulders;  but  we,  of  modern  times,  only 
bear  the  chips  of  the  cross ;  or,  if  the  chip  happen  to  be  a 
big  and  heavy  one,  and  hit  pretty  hard,  or  sit  heavy,  we 
are  not  without  cushions  of  many  comforts  to  make  them 
tolerable ! 

The  time  is  at  hand  when  I  must  leave  Birmingham, — 
noble,  glorious  Birmingham!  O,  how  I  love  the  place, 
and  its  people!  Hard  to  drag  myself  away  from  them. 
Have  been  consolidating  the  work ;  strengthening  and  for- 
tifying the  new  converts,  and  preaching  farewell  sermons 
in  various  chapels ;  journaling  a  little,  and  trying  to  keep 
up  with  my  correspondence,  which  is  no  easy  matter  some- 
times ;  but  all  with  a  single  eye  to  His  glory. 

^  ^  :Ji  ^  ^  5|t 

Have  had  the  pleasure  of  taking  tea  with  the  ministers 
and  leaders  of  both  the  Birmingham  circuits;  told  them 
all  I  hoped  and  all  I  feared  regarding  the  young  converts ; 
and  with  the  deepest  humility,  begged  they  would  do  all 
in  their  power  to  preserve  them  to  the  church,  and  to 
maintain  the  honor  of  this  great  revival. 

We  had  gracious  seasons ;  and  they  kindly  assured  me 
that  nothing  should  be  wanting,  upon  their  part,  in  carry- 
ing out  all  my  suggestions.  I  felt  greatly  humbled  at  the 
loving,  hearty  deference  which  they  paid  to  one  so  un- 
worthy. May  the  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost  bless  them 
more  and  more  !  Amen. 

This  has  been  a  glorious  work  of  God,  indeed;  thou- 


REVIVALS  UNDER  CAUGHEY. 


223 


sands  have  been  saved.  To  God  be  all  the  glory,  is  the 
sure  language  of  my  heart.  From  the  registers,  kept  by 
authorized  and  competent  secretaries,  on  both  "the  east 
and  west  circuits,"  as  they  are  called,  it  is  ascertained  that 
since  last  December,  about  two  thousand  eight  hundred 
souls  have  been  justified  by  faith  in  Christ ;  and  about  one 
thousand  four  hundred  persons  sanctified,  in  the  full  sense 
of  Acts  15 :  9, — "Purifying  their  hearts  by  faith."  Total 
saved,  in  both  blessings,  four  thousand  two  hundred  per- 
sons. 

The  names  of  all  these  persons  were  carefully  regis- 
tered as  the  work  advanced,  together  with  their  respective 
places  of  residence.  This  was  done  to  prevent  exagger- 
ated reports,  and  that  proper  care  might  be  taken  of  the 
subjects  of  the  work.  Many  of  the  above  were  from  the 
country  around,  as  well  as  the  town ;  some  were  from  ten 
to  fifty  miles  distant.  Other  churches  and  congregations 
in  town  were  well  represented,  and  doubtless  have,  or  will, 
receive  accessions.  A  large  number,  too,  were  members 
of  the  Wesleyan  church,  both  of  the  justified  and  sancti-' 
fied.  Allowing  these  deductions,  the  numbers  from  the 
world,  and  now  united  with  the  Wesleyans,  must  be  very 
large. 

May  loth. — Farewell,  Birmingham  !  Fare-thee-well,  in 
every  sense  of  the  word,  especially  in  the  religious  sense; 
and  farewell,  my  children  within  thee !  Their  times  of  trial 
ar  at  hand ;  the  chaff  to  be  driven  from  among  the  wheat ; 
— ^that  will  be  taken  up  as  a  reproach  against  the  revival, 
although  ever  so  much  wheat  may  remain !  And,  alas ! 
the  wheat  may  be  driven  away  too,  or  spoil  through  inat- 
tention or  mismanagement. 


224 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


It  is  well,  therefore,  to  glory  in  nothing, — neither  in 
success  nor  influence;  for,  O,  how  soon  both  may  vanish 
away!  It  is  safe  only  to  'glory  in  the  Lord,*  and  to  meet 
the  temptation  to  glory  in  anything  else,  with  the  apostle's 
*God  forbid  that  I  should  glory!'  Ah,  that  is  the  safest, 
sweetest,  happiest  state  of  mind! 

And  farewell,  ye  ministers  of  our  God,  with  whom  I 
have  taken  sweet  counsel! — and  ye  leaders  and  fellow-la- 
borers !  A  glorious  band  of  faithful  men  and  women,  who 
helped  us  much  in  the  Lord ;  to  whom,  in  fact,  under  God, 
much  of  the  credit  and  honor  of  this  great  work  of  God  is 
certainly  due;  for,  what  could  we  have  done  without  them? 
Farewell,  All ! — ye  blessed  families,  where  I  have  been  for 
months  so  generously  entertained;  all,  too,  who  have 
showed  the  stranger  kindness  in  word  and  deed.  Bless- 
ings on  you  all! — every  blessing  from  heaven  above,  ancf 
earth  beneath,  be  upon  you  all.    Farewell ! 

And,  to  poor  sinners  whom  I  leave  in  their  sins,  can  I 
say.  Farewell  ?  Alas,  alas  !  how  can  I  ? — with  what  heart 
or  prospect,  if  they  go  on  resisting  the  Spirit  of  God,  as 
they  have  been  doing?  O,  Lord  God,  have  mercy  upon 
them,  and  bring  them  to  repentance !  Amen." 


CHAPTER  X. 


THE  GREAT  REVIVAL  IN  IRELAND. 

Immediately  following  the  great  religious  awakening  which  took  place  in  our 
own  land  in  1857  and  1858,  a  glorious  wave  of  revival  power  swept  over  Ireland, 
such  as  had  not  been  known  there  for  centuries.  It  came  in  a  time  of  great 
spiritual  dearth  but — as  is  doubtless  always  the  case — in  answer  to  the  earnest 
supplication  of  the  few  faithful  saints  whose  hearts  wept  before  the  Lord  because 
of  the  desolation  of  Zion. 

We  quote  from  the  work,  * 'The  Year  of  Grace:  A  History  of  the  Revival  in 
Ireland,  A.  D.  1859,"  a  large  book  of  nearly  five  hundred  pages  by  Rev.  William 
Gibson,  who  was  at  that  time  Professor  of  Christian  Ethics  in  Queen's  College, 
Belfast,  and  Moderator  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Ireland.~~" 

I  shall  narrate  the  progress  of  the  work  (in  Bally miena) 
in  'the  words  of  a  young  friend  resident  on  the  spot,  who 
took  part  in  the  movement  in  his  native  town  and  who  has 
suppHed  me  with  the  following  impressive  statement : 

"When  the  great  outpouring  came,  worldly  men  were 
.silent  with  an  indefinite  fear,  and  Christians  found  them- 
selves borne  onward  in  the  current,  with  scarce  time  for 
any  feeling  but  the  overpowering  conviction  that  a  great 
revival  had  come  at  last.  Careless  men  were  bowed  in 
unaffected  earnestness,  and  sobbed  like  children.  Drunk- 
ards and  boasting  blasphemers  were  awed  into  solemnity 
and  silence.  Sabbath-school  teachers  and  scholars  be- 
came seekers  of  Christ  together;  and  languid  believers 
were  stirred  up  to  unusual  exertion.  There  was  great 
earnestness  with  all,  and  enthusiasm  with  some,  but  little 
extravagance  or  ridicule  was  known.  Ministers  who  had 
often  toiled  in  heartfelt  sorrow  suddenly  found  themselves 
beset  by  inquirers,  and  wholly  unequal  to  the  demands 
which  were  made.  Every  day  many  were  hopefully  con- 
verted :  passing  through  an  ordeal  of  coiivictipn  nior^  or 


226  OLD  TIME  RELIGION."^ 

less  severe,  to  realize  their  great  deliverance,  and  to  throw 
themselves  with  every  energy  into  the  work  of  warning 
others,  or  of  leading  them  to  the  Lord. 

"All  this  came  suddenly,  and  many  thought  it  strange. 
It  was  little  marvel  that  the  world  was  astonished,  but  the 
incredulous  wonder  of  many  Christians  showed  how  much 
we  needed  a  revival.  We  were  astonished  that  God  took 
us  at  our  word,  and  sent  at  last  the  quickening  grace  for 
which  we  had  been  dreamily  praying  so  long.  The  theory 
of  asking  and  receiving  was  common,  but  the  getting  of  a 
blessing  for  which  there  was  no  room  was  rare.  The  day- 
spring  broke  upon  sleepers;  there  were  few  who  could 
wait  and  watch  with  their  unchanging  Lord.  'Thy  king- 
dom come'  was  familiar;  but  the  coming  kingdom  was 
the  wonder  of  the  day. 

"It  was  in  the  opening  summer  that  the  revival  came, 
when  the  darkness  lingers  so  long  at  nightfall,  and  the 
bright  mornings  break  so  soon.  We  can  remember  how 
many  lighted  windows  there  were  though  the  night  was 
far  gone,  and  how  prayer-meetings  were  prolonged  till  the 
day  had  returned  again.  Every  evening  the  churches  were 
crowded  ,and  family  worship  became  almost  universal.  In 
the  country,  large  meetings  were  held  in  the  open  air,  and 
hundreds  were  often  visibly  impressed  by  strong  convic- 
tion. Part  of  the  dinner-hour  was  generally  devoted  to 
singing  and  prayer,  and  the  sound  from  numerous  groups 
of  worshipers  could  be  heard  far  at  a  distance  as  it  was 
borne  on  the  summer  breeze.  Thousands  of  tracts  were 
circulated  and  read  with  avidity,  and  long-neglected  Bibles 
came  into  general  use.  The  order  of  an  accustomed  for- 
mality was  gone;  and  while  exhausted  ministers  were 


REVIVAL  IN  IRELAND,  227 

compelled  to  leave,  the  people  reluctantly  dispersed — 
some  to  pray  over  unimpressed  friends,  others  to  feel  the 
workings  of  an  awakened  conscience,  and  many  to  rejoice 
in  their  new  liberty,  and  to  glory  in  their  King. 

"The  process  of  conviction  was  greatly  varied.  In  the 
larger  number  it  was  little  observed,  and  not  connected 
with  any  bodily  affection.  On  some  the  conviction  of  real, 
present,  terrible  danger  came  like  a  thunderbolt,  and  they 
were  compelled  to  shout  for  mercy  in  total  disregard  of 
place  or  circumstances.  Others  were  less  violently  im- 
pressed, and  the  evidence  took  the  milder  form  of  weeping. 
As  a  general  rule,  however,  a  deep  anxiety  was  felt  for  a 
longer  or  shorter  time  before  the  crisis  of  strong  convic- 
tion. The  most  hopeful  were  generally  of  the  first  or  third 
class.  The  violent  bodily  paroxysm  was  felt  usually  by 
those  who  had  been  previously  ignorant  or  openly  im- 
moral. In  some  cases  it  might  be  traced  to  mere  sym- 
pathy, or  to  an  exclusively  physical  agency,  and  the  ap- 
parent reform  was  only  temporary ;  but  in  the  great  major- 
ity the  change  was  lasting  and  deep.  It  is  not  strange  that 
the  reason  was  occasionally  affected  for  a  time  by  those 
attacks,  and  that  the  health  shared  in  the  mental  suffering. 
Many  were  thus  instantly  impressed  who  never  atte'nded 
any  meeting  at  all,  and  others  at  their  usual  employment. 
The  great  purpose  seemingly  intended  by  this  visitation 
was  the  arousing  of  others  by  direct  appeal  to  their  senses 
and  it  was  completely  accomplished."    *    *  * 

Of  the  several  stages  in  the  experience  of  those  who 
have  been  the  subjects  of  physical  prostration,  the  first  is 
characterized  by  an  awful  apprehension  of  impending  evil, 
a  fearful  looking  for  of  judgment  and  fiery  indignation, 
accompanied  by  a  crushing  pressure  on  the  region  of  the 


228 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


heart,  inducing  the  loud  despairing  cry,  or  the  groan  of 
agony.  In  this  state  the  sufferer  is  overwhelmed  as  by 
the  billows  of  the  Divine  wrath,  so  that  human  help  is  for 
the  time  of  no  avail,  and  all  that  man  can  do  is  to  await 
the  issue,  committing  it  to  Him  who  causeth  light  to  arise 
in  the  darkness.  Then  is  the  period  also  of  fierce  wrestling, 
real  or  imagined,  with  the  evil  one,  whose  personality  is 
apprehended  with  terrible  distinctness,  insomuch  that  the 
soul  is  an  arena  in  which  a  death-struggle  is  being  car- 
ried on  between  the  powers  of  light  and  darkness. 

In  the  second  stage,  which  is  generally  very  sudden  in 
its  development,  there  is  a  transition  from  the  deep  de- 
pression before  experienced  to  a  calmer  state  of  feeling, 
and  some  object,  earnestly  desired  and  longed  for,  stands 
out  before  the  view; — the  intensity  of  the  mind's  gaze 
being  such  that  no  human  presence,  although  many  may 
be  intently  waiting  by,  is  realized.  It  is  a  sort  of  waking 
dream,  in  which  the  steadfast  countenance  and  upturned 
eye  denote  the  character  of  the  inward  exercise.  The 
laboring  chest  no  longer  heaves  under  its  oppressive  bur- 
den; there  is  a  subsidence  of  the  sob,  the  groan,  the  wail 
of  lamentation,  and  the  cold  damps  are  passing  off  the 
brow.  The  arms  that  tossed  about  so  wildly,  are  now 
stretched  forth  as  if  to  embrace  the  prized  and  cherished 
object,  and  utterances  like  these  drop  from  the  lips  in  melt- 
ing cadence :  blessed  Jesus,  come !  Thou  art  my  hope, 
my  life,  my  all;  wash  me  in  Thy  most  precious  blood! 
take  away  this  filthy  garment,  and  cover  me  with  Thine 
own  pure  righteousness !"  Or,  more  affecting  still,  as  in  the 
case  of  that  little  girl,  but  eight  years  old,  who  exclaimed 
imploringly,  in  her  native  patois,  "O  Christ,  come  to  me  I 
and  when  you  come,  oh  dinna  lea'  me,  but  aye  stay  wi' 


REVIVAL  IN  IRELAND. 


229 


me/*  It  is  in  this  stage  that  images  flit  before  the  mind 
with  all  the  vividness  of  reality,  and  as  if  possessed  of  shape 
and  substance; — insomuch  that  the  person,  subsequently 
referring  to  his  experience,  will  speak  as  if  he  had  seen  the 
dread  realities  of  heaven  or  hell,  although  assured  on  calm 
reflection  that  the  objects  before  his  vision  have  only  been 
his  own  thoughts  embodied  in  that  form. 

And  now  a  third  experience  ensues.  It  is  that  of  sensi- 
ble relief,  a  lightsome  and  liberated  feeling,  of  which  the 
chief  ingredient  is  the  assurance  of  forgiveness  prompt- 
ing the  outburst  of  rapturous  praise-  The  fountains  of 
the  soul  seem  to  be  opened,  and  forth  flows,  in  unrestrained 
exuberance,  the  gushing  fulness  of  its  joy.  The  bodily 
sensations  correspond  with  the  inward  ecstasy,  and  even 
the  plainest  features  glow  as  with  an  unearthly  beauty. 
The  heavy  load,  the  incubus  that  weighed  down  all  the 
spirit's  energies,  is  lifted  ofif,  and  there  is  a  buoyancy  and 
elasticity  proportionate  to  the  depressing  burden.  The 
new-born  happiness  seeks  audible  expression.  The  lan- 
guage of  the  lips  is  all  in  unison  with  the  serenity  that 
reigns  within.  "Christ  and  Him  crucified"  being  once 
apprehetided,  the  grand,  the  dominant  desire  is  to  com- 
mend Him  to  all  around.  How  often,  then,  are  heard 
such  words  as  those  in  which  a  Sabbath-school  girl,  some 
thirteen  years  of  age,  was  addressing  her  little  companions, 
by  her  bedside,  as  she  lay  in  much  exhaustion  after  a  sea- 
son of  mental  agony,  while  a  gleam  of  spiritual  joy  played 
over  her  pale  countenance,:  'O  Annie!  O  Jane,  dear!  come 
to  Jesus !  He  '11  not  put  you  away.  Oh,  give  Him  your 
heart,  give  Him  all  your  heart,  and  He  '11  take  away  all 
your  sins,  and  make  you  so  happy  as  He  has  made  me ;  Oh 
that  all  the  sinners  about  here  would  come  to  Him?  He 


280 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


has  room  for  them  all.  He  would  save  them  all."  *  *  * 
There  is  one  incident  so  striking  in  the  commencement 
of  the  movement  in  Coleraine,  that  it  cannot  be  omitted 
in  any  but  the  most  cursory  statement  on  the  subject.  It  is 
impossible  to  present  it  in  a  better  form  than  has  been 
done  by  Mr.  Arthur,  in  one  of  his  Tracts  on  the  Revival, 
in  these  words.  After  narrating  an  impressive  scene  wit- 
nessed by  one  of  his  brethren,  a  Methodist  minister  in  the 
town,  he  says : 

"Not  far  from  the  spot  where  this  took  place  stands  a 
large  school,  belonging  to  the  corporation  of  London,  or 
that  body  connected  with  it,  known  as  the  Irish  Society, 
who  are  landlords  of  Coleraine,  and  of  much  property 
around.  In  it  a  boy  was  observed  under  deep  impressions. 
The  master,  seeing  that  the  little  fellow  was  not  fit  to  work, 
called  him  to  him,  and  advised  him  to  go  home,  and  call 
upon  the  Lord  in  private.  With  him  he  sent  an  older  boy, 
who  had  found  peace  the  day  before.  On  their  way  they 
saw  an  empty  house,  and  went  in  there  to  pray  together. 
The  two  schoolfellows  continued  in  prayer  in  the  empty 
house  till  he  who  was  weary  and  heavy-laden  felt  his  soul 
blessed  with  sacred  peace.  Rejoicing  in  this  new  and 
strange  blessedness,  the  little  fellow  said,  'I  must  go  back 

and  tell  Mr.  .'   The  boy,  who,  a  little  while  ago,  had 

been  too  sorrowful  to  do  his  work,  soon  entered  the  school 
with  a  beaming  face,  and,  going  up  to  the  master,  said,  in 

his  simple  way,  'O  Mr.   ,  I  am  so  happy!  I  have  the 

Lord  Jesus  in  my  heart !'  Strange  words,  in  cold  times ! 
Natural  words,  when  upon  the  simple  and  the  young  the 
Spirit  is  poured  out,  and  they  feel  what  is  meant  by  'Christ 
in  you  the  hope  of  glory,'  and  utter  it  in  the  first  terms 
that  come!    The  attention  of  the  whole  school  was  at- 


REVIVAL  IN  IRELAND. 


231 


tracted.  Boy  after  boy  silently  slipped  out  of  the  room. 
After  a  while,  the  master  stood  upon  something  which  en- 
abled him  to  look  over  the  wall  of  the  play-ground.  There 
he  saw  a  number  of  his  boys  ranged  round  the  wall  on 
their  knees  in  earnest  prayer,-  every  one  apart.  The  scene 
overcame  him.  Presently  he  turned  to  the  pupil  who  had 
already  been  a  comforter  to  one  schoolfellow,  and  said, 
'Do  you  think  you  can  go  and  pray  with  these  boys  ?'  He 
went  out,  and,  kneeling  down  among  them,  began  to 
implore  the  Lord  to  forgive  their  sins  for  the  sake  of  Him 
who  had  borne  them  all  upon  the  cross.  Their  silent 
'grief  soon  broke  into  a  bitter  cry.  As  this  reached  the  ears 
of  the  boys  in  the  room,  it  seemed  to  pierce  their  hearts, 
as  by  one  consent  they  cast  themselves  upon  their  knees, 
and  began  to  cry  for  mercy.  The  girls'  school  was  above, 
and  the  cry  no  sooner  penetrated  to  their  room  than,  ap- 
parently well  knowing  what  mourning  it  was,  and  hearing 
in  it  a  call  to  themselves,  they,  too,  fell  upon  their  knees 
and  wept.  Strange  disorder  for  schoolmaster  and  mistress 
to  have  to  control!  The  united  cry  reached  the  adjoining 
streets.  Every  ear,  prepared  by  the  prevailing  Spirit,  at 
once  interpreted  it  as  the  voice  of  those  who  look  upon  Him 
whom  they  have  pierced,  and  mourn  for  him.  One  and 
another  of  the  neighbors  came  in,  and.  at  once  cast  them- 
selves upon  their  knees  and  joined  in  the  cry  for  mercy. 
These  increased,  and  continued  to  increase,  till  first  one 
room,  then  another,  then  a  public  office  on  the  premises,  in 
fact,  every  available  spot,  was  filled  with  sinners  seeking 
God.  Clergymen  of  different  denominations,  and  men  of 
prayer,  were  sought,  and  they  spent  the  day  in  pleading  for 
the  mourners ; — sweetest  of  all  the  toils  that  this  earth 
doth  witness,  when  men,  themselves  enjoying  heavenly 


232 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


peace,  labor  in  intercession  for  those  who  are  now,  as  they 
were  once,  broken-hearted  by  a  sight  of  their  sins,  and 
striving  to  enter  in  at  the  straight  gate,  in  order  to  walk  in 
the  narrow  way!  Thus  passed  hour  after  hour  of  that 
memorable  day.  Dinner  was  forgotten,  tea  was  forgotten, 
and  it  was  not  till  eleven  o'clock  at  night  that  the  school 
premises  were  freed  from  their  unexpected  guests." 

The  following  statement  respecting  the  movement  in 
C'oleraine  is  furnished  by  the  Rev.  J.  A.  Canning,  of  that 
town : 

"Upon  the  evening  of  the  7th  of  June,  1859,  open- 
air  meeting  was  held  in  one  of  the  market-places  of  the 
town,  called  the  'Fair-Hill.'  The  announced  object  of  the 
meeting  was  to  receive  and  hear  one  or  two  of  the  'con- 
verts,' as  they  began  to  be  called,  from  a  district  some 
eight  or  ten  miles  south  of  Coleraine.  The  evening  was 
one  of  the  most  lovely  that  ever  shone.  The  richly  wooded 
banks  of  the  river  Bann,  which  bounds  one  side  of  the 
square  in  which  the  meeting  was  held,  were  fully  in  pros- 
pect, and  there  was  not  a  cloud  in  the  sky.  Shortly  after 
seven  o'clock,  dense  masses  of  people,  from  town  and 
country,  began  to  pour  into  the  square  by  all  its  ap- 
proaches, and  in  a  short  time  an  enormous  multitude 
crowded  around  the  platform  from  which  speakers  were  to 
address  the  meeting.  After  singing  and  prayer,  the  con- 
verts, a  young  man  and  a  man  more  advanced  in  years, 
and  both  of  the  humbler  class,  proceeded  to  address  the 
meeting.  Their  addresses  were  short,  and  consisted  al- 
most entirely  of  a  detail  of  their  own  awakening,  and  earn- 
est appeals  to  the  consciences  of  sinners.  After  the  lapse 
of  nearly  an  hour,  it  became  manifest  that  more  than  one- 
half  of  the  congregated  multitude  could  not  hear  the  voices 


REVIVAL  IN  IRELAND 


233 


of  the  speakers  on  the  platform,  when  it  was  suggested 
that  the  people  should  separate  into  distinct  congregations 
or  groups,  and  that  a  minister  should  preach  to  each 
group.  This  was  immediately  done,  and  some  three  or 
four  separate  audiences  were  soon  listening  with  most 
marked  attention  to  as  many  preachers,  for  all  the  min- 
isters of  all  the  evangelical  churches  in  the  town  were 
present. 

"I  was  engaged  in  addressing  a  large  group  of  people, 
composed  of  all  ages  an^  of  all  ranks  of  the  community, 
from  a  portion  of  Scripture,  when  I  became  struck  with 
the  deep  and  peculiar  attention  which  manifestly  every 
mind  and  heart  was  lending  to  what  I  spoke.  As  to  man- 
ner, my  address  was  very  calm ;  as  to  matter,  it  consisted 
of  plain  gospel  truth,  as  it  concerns  man's  lost  condition 
on  the  one  hand,  and  the  free  grace  of  God,  as  displayed 
in  salvation,  on  the  other.  I  know  that  the  addresses  of 
my  brethren  were  of  a  Hke  character.  I  never  saw  before, 
in  any  audience,  the  same  seardhing,  earnest,  riveted  look 
fixed  upon  my  face,  as  strained  up  to  me  from  almost  every 
eye  in  that  hushed  and  apparently  awe-struck  multitude. 
I  remember,  even  whilst  I  was  speaking,  asking  myself. 
How  is  this?  why  is  this?  As  yet,  however,  the  people 
stood  motionless,  and  perfectly  silent;  when,  about  the 
time  at  which  the  last  speaker  was  closing  his  address,  a 
very  peculiar  cry  arose  from  out  a  dense  group  at  one  side 
of  the  square,  and  in  less  than  ten  minutes  a  similar  cry 
was  repeated  in  six  or  eight  different  groups,  until,  in  a 
very  short  time,  the  whole  multitude  was  divided  into 
awe-struck  assemblages  around  persons  prostrate  on  the 
ground,  or  supported  in  the  arms  of  relatives  or  friends. 
I  hurried  to  the  center  of  one  of  these  groups,  and  having 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


first  exhorted  the  persons  standing  around  to  retire,  and 
leave  me  to  deal  with  the  prostrate  one,  I  stooped  over 
him,  and  found  him  to  be  a  young  man  of  some  eighteen 
or  twenty  years,  but  personally  unknown  to  me.  He  lay 
on  the  ground,  his  head  supported  on  the  knees  of  an 
elder  of  one  of  our  churches.  His  eyes  were  closed;  his 
hands  were  firmly  clasped,  and  occasionally  very  forcibly 
pressed  upon  the  chest.  He  was  uttering  incessantly  a 
peculiar  deep  moan,  sometimes  terminating  in  a  prolonged 
wailing  cry.  I  felt  his  pulse,  and  could  discern  nothing 
very  peculiar  about  it.  I  said,  softly  and  quietly  in  his  ear, 
'Why  do  you  cry  so?'  when  he  opened  his  eyes  for  an 
instant,  and  I  could  perceive  that  they  had,  stronger  than 
I  ever  saw  it  before,  that  inward  look,  if  I  might  so  express 
it,  which  indicates  that  the  mind  is  wholly  occupied  with 
its  own  images  and  impressions.  *Oh!'  he  exclaimed,  high 
and  loud,  in  reply  to  my  question,  'my  sins!  my  sins! 
Lord  Jesus,  have  mercy  upon  my  poor  soul!  O  Jesus! 
come!  O  Lord  Jesus,  come!'  I  endeavored  to  calm  him 
for  a  moment,  asking  him  to  listen  to  me  whilst  I  set  before 
him  some  of  the  promises  of  God  to  perishing  sinners.  At 
first  I  thought  that  I  was  carrying  his  attention  with  me 
In  what  I  was  saying,  but  I  soon  discovered  that  his  whole 
soul  was  filled  with  one  idea, — his  guilt  and  his  danger; 
for,  in  the  middle  of  my  repetition  of  some  promise,  he 
would  burst  forth  with  the  bitter  cry,  'O  God,  my  sins! 
my  sins!'  At  length  I  said  in  his  ear,  'Will  I  pray?'  He 
replied  in  a  loud  voice,  'Oh,  yes !'  I  engaged  in  prayer, 
and  yet  I  doubt  whether  his  mind  followed  me  beyond  the 
first  sentence  or  two.  As  I  arose  from  prayer,  six  or  eight 
persons,  all  at  the  same  instant,  pressed  around  me,  crying, 
*n"K.  e^^frfe  'an'd  see  (naminj^f  such  a   one — and — and)' — 


REVIVAL  IN  IRELAND. 


235 


until  I  felt  for  a  moment  bewildered,  and  the  prayer  went 
out  from  my  own  heart,  'God  guide  me !'  I  passedj 
from  cas-e  to  case  for  two  or  three  hours,  as  did  my 
brethren  in  the  ministry,  until,  when  the  night  was  far 
spent,  and  the  stricken  ones  began  to  be  removed  to  the 
shelter  of  roofs,  I  turned  my  face  homewards  through  one 
street,  when  I  soon  discovered  that  the  work  which  had 
begun  in  the  market-square  was  now  advancing  with  mar- 
vellous rapidity  in  the  homes  of  the  people.  As  I  ap- 
proached door  after  door,  persons  were  watching  for  me 
and  other  ministers,  to  bring  us  to  deal  with  some  poor 
agonized  stricken  one;  and  when  the  morning  dawned, 
and  until  the  sun  arose,  I  was  wandering  from  street  to 
street,  and  from  house  to  house,  on  the  most  marvellous 
and  solemn  errand  upon  which  I  have  ever  been  sent. 

"Throughout  the  following  day,  the  8th  of  June,  scenes 
similar  to  those  which  I  have  alluded  to  continued  to  occur 
in  private  houses  in  almost  every  street.  In  the  evening  a 
dense  multitude  assembled  again  in  the  market-place ;  and 
again,  simultaneously  with  the  preaching  of  the  gospel  and 
prayer,  many  more  than  on  the  preceding  evening  sank 
upon  the  ground,  and  with  bitter  cries  besought  the  Lord, 
Jesus  Christ  to  come  in  mercy  to  their  souls.  Profiting 
by  the  experience  of  the  preceding  night,  elders  of  the 
churches  and  other  Christian  people  sought  to  find 
some  building,  where  the  many  'stricken  ones,'  as  they 
began  now  to  be  called,  from  the  surrounding  country 
might  receive  shelter,  and  the  attention  of  Christian  min- 
isters and  others  until  the  morning.  Just  at  this  period 
the  new  Town  Hall  of  Coleraine  had  been  completed, 
though  it  had  never  yet  been  used  for  any  purpose.  Some 
one  suggested  it  as  a  fitting  place  of  shelter.  The  sugges- 


236 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


tion  was  at  once  acted  upon;  and  in  the  town  a  solemn 
interest  attaches  to  the  beautiful  building,  from  the  fact 
that  the  first  use  for  which  it  was  ever  employed  was  to 
shelter  in  its  halls  many,  very  many  poor  sinners,  whilst 
they  agonized  with  God  for  the  pardon  of  sin."    *    *  * 

A  few  miles  distant  from  the  place  last  noticed  is  Bally- 
carry,  of  which  the  Rev.  John  Stuart  writes  as  follows : 

''Here  was  erected  the  first  Presbyterian  church  in  Ire- 
land. Here  the  Rev.  Edward  Brice,  in  1613,  unfurled  the 
banner  of  Scotland's  covenant,  and  began  preaching  the 
everlasting  gospel.  Two  faithful  and  godly  ministers  were 
his  successors,  and  then  for  eighty  long  years  the  church 
lay  under  the  incubus  of  Arianism — the  frozen  zone  of 
Christianity.  The  God,  however,  who  reserved  to  Himself 
seven  thousand  souls  who  had  not  bowed  the  knee  to  the 
image  of  Baal,  reserved  here  a  goodly  remnant  which  ad- 
hered to  the  synod  of  Ulster  when,  in  1829,  their  minister 
and  a  portion  of  his  flock  openly  abandoned  the  faith  of 
God's  people.  Since  that  time,  our  church,  like  the  house 
of  David,  has  waxed  stronger  and  stronger,  and  'Unitari- 
anism,'  as  the  heresy  is  now  called,  like  the  house  of  Saul, 
has  waxed  weaker  and  weaker.  God's  gracious  'Revival,' 
which  commenced  early  in  May  last,  has  still  more  added 
to  pur  members.  Through  the  mighty  workmg  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  on  the  hearts  of  sinners,  forty  souls  have  been 
brought  from  under  that  Christless  system  into  the  com- 
munion of  our  church,  and  God  has  bestowed  on  some  of 
them,  both  males  and  females,  wonderful  power  of  prayer 
and  fluency  of  expression. 

"After  more  than  seven  months'  experience,  I  can  boldly 
and  fearlessly  bear  my  testimony  to  the  blessed  fruits  and 
marvelous  results  of  this  mighty  movernent,   I  have  not 


REVIVAL  IN  IRELAND. 


237 


confined  my  labors  to  my  own  locality.  I  have  preached 
and  delivered  addresses  in  many  a  town  and  village,  and 
in  many  a  country  parish,  of  several  counties ;  and  when 
I  gazed  on  the  hundreds  and  sometimes  the  thousands 
by  whom  I  was  surrounded,  I  could  not  but  exclaim, 
'Who  are  these  that  fly  as  a  cloud,  and  as  the  doves  to 
their  windows?'  Society  appeared  to  be  stirred  up  to  its 
lowest  depths. 

"Amongst  ourselves  here  in  this  extensive  district, 
God's  right  hand  and  holy  arm  have  won  many  victories. 
Never  was  there  such  a  summer  as  the  last ;  never  such  an 
autumn ;  never  such  a  winter,  so  far  as  it  has  gone.  Hun- 
dreds have  been"  savingly  converted  to  the  Lord;  some 
'stricken'  down  when  the  Spirit  came  upon  them  like  a 
'rushing  mighty  wind;'  others  convinced  and  converted 
whilst  he  spake  to  their  consciences  by  the  'still  small 
voice.'  The  first  effect  of  the  revival  was,  that  'fear  came 
upon  every  soul.'  Then  was  our  church  filled  to  suffoca- 
tion, and  we  were  obliged  to  take  to  the  open  fields  to 
declare  the  message  of  mercy  to  a  hungering  and  thirsting 
population.  The  hitherto  unoccupied  pews  were  ardently 
sought  after.  All  were  engaged.  The  aisles  were  filled 
with  forms  crowded  with  anxious  hearers,  and  now  preach- 
ing became  a  luxury.  I  had  Pastor's  work  to  do.  I  had 
living  men  and  living  women  before  me.  They  came  to 
the  sanctuary  on  the  sole  errand  of  obtaining  the  'bread 
of  life.'  Every  Sabbath  was  a  day  of  'sweet  refreshing.' 
On  every  week-day  evening  'they  that  feared  the  Lord 
spake  often  one  to  another,  and  the  Lord  hearkened  and 
heard,'  and  'there  were  added  to  the  church  daily  such  as 
should  be  saved.'  Of  all  the  stricken  ones — two  hundred  in 
number — I  do  not  know  of  one  backslider." 


238  OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 

In  the  neighboring  district  of  Ballyeaston,  there  is  a; 
melancholy  interest  attaching  to  the  work,  for  it  was  while 
he  was  engaged  in  it  that  a  devoted  minister,  the  Rev.  A. 
Pollock,  fell  a  victim  to  his  exhausting  labors.  In  a  fetter 
written  but  a  few  days  before  his  death,  he  thus  describes 
his  last  communion  Sabbath  with  his  people: 

^The  joy  of  converts,  the  cry  of  penitents,  the  wailing 
of  friends,  reminded  me  of  the  building  of  the  second 
temple,  when  some  shouted  and  others  wept.  Our  tokens 
were  soon  all  given  away,  which  never  happened  before. 
About  one  hundred  had  to  be  provided  for  on  the  Sabbath 
morning,  and  we  could  not  persuade  the  people  to  dis- 
perse. On  Sabbath  morning  the  house  was  filled  to  over- 
flowing, and  with  little  preparation,  it  was  no  easy  task  to 
ascend  the  pulpit.  I  addressed  them  from  the  words, 
'Get  thee  up,  eat  and  drink  ;for  there  is  a  sound  of  abun- 
dance of  rain.'  The  Holy  Ghost  was  there  indeed,  as  a 
mighty  rushing  wind.  Many  were  moved;  and  in  the 
evening  the  green  was  filled,  and.no  man  can  tell  the  num- 
ber of  the  souls  which  were  added  to  the  church.  The 
young  converts  wished  to  go  to  the  first  table,  and  sit 
together.  We  saw  their  eyes  beaming  with  the  light  of 
heaven ;  their  faces  shining  like  angels' ;  their  hearts  heav- 
ing with  the  love  of  Jesus,  and  their  hands  clapping  with 
joy  before  the  God  of  Jacob.  Such  a  table!  It  was  a 
foretaste  of  heaven.  All  was  in  accordance  with  order; 
nothing  extravagant;  no  extraordinary  excitement.  God 
was  there;  and  all  were  bowed  before  Him.  To  Him  be 
glory!" 

"One  of  the  first-fruits  of  the  revival  in  our  congrega- 
tion," says  the  Rev.  Henry  Leebody,  of  BalHnderry,  "has 
gone  home  to  heaven,  leaving  a  blessed  and  a  glorious  tes- 


tlfiVIVAL  IN  IRELAND. 


239 


timony  behind  him.  I  spoke  at  the  house  the  evening 
previous  to  his  interment,  and  also  the  day  of  the  funeral. 
We  had  a  large  attendance  of  all  sects  and  parties ;  and 
even  those  who  had  been  most  opposed  to  this  blessed 
work  had  come  to  confess  that  the  young  man  who  had 
departed  had  shown,  both  in  his  Hfe  and  in  his  death,  the 
power  of  saving  grace.  Before  the  coffin  was  closed,  his 
father,  kneeling  beside  the  remains  of  his  son,  blessed  God 
for  the  work  which  had  been  wrought  in  him  who  had  de- 
parted, and  fervently  entreated  that  every  member  of  the 
family  might  feel  as  he  felt  whom  Jesus  had  taken  home." 

In  no  part  of  the  country,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  was 
there  a  more  genuine  and,  in  every  way,  satisfactory  work 
than  in  that  to  which  the  following  exciting  narrative  re- 
fers. Its  minister,  the  Rev.  William  Magill,  was  from  the 
outset  intensely  solicitous  that  the  community  among 
whom  he  labors  should  be  brought  under  the  power  dffhe 
gracious  influence: 

'The  revival  commenced  here  on  the  loth  of  June.  On 
the  morning  of  that  day,  I  rose  from  my  bed  impressed 
with  the  thought  that  something  strange  and  wonderful 
was  about  to  happen  in  Dundrod.  I  cannot  account  for 
the  feeling;  but  I  had  a  strong  presentiment,  not  of  evil, 
but  of  coming  good.  I  had  been  in  Belfast  the  day  pre- 
vious, and  had  leaned  over  the  prostrate  bodies  of  men 
and  women  laboring  under  strong  conviction  of  sin.  I  had 
heard,  for  the  first  time  in  my  life,  the  sighs  and  groans  of 
breaking  hearts,  and  witnessed  with  a  feeling  of  wonder 
and  awe  the  mental  agony  and  the  terrible  struggle  of 
souls  wrestling  with  'the  principalities  and  powers  of  dark- 
ness,' and  'contending  earnestly'  for  life  and  liberty;  and 
when  the  battle  was  won,  I  heard  with  almost  equal  won- 


240 


Old  time  religion. 


der  the  shout  of  victory,  like  the  pealing  of  a  trumpet  on 
the  field  from  which  the  enemy  had  fled.  I  came  home 
filled  with  strange  thoughts,  cherishing  high  hopes,  and 
breathing"  earnest  prayers  that  the  Lord  would  come  over 
the  mountains  and  visit  my  people. 

"I  expected  something,  and  I  was  not  disappointed. 
When  dressing  on  the  following  morning,  I  observed  a 
man  approaching  the  manse,  and  the  thought  at  once  arose 
in  my  mind.  This  man  is  perhaps  coming  for  me, — the 
work  is  begun.  It  was  even  so.  I  was  soon  on  my  way 
to  his  house.  He  told  me  as  we  went,  that  one  of  his 
daughters,  after  returning  home  from  the  prayer-meeting, 
had  fallen  ill,  strangely  ill, — that  she  was  up  all  night, 
and  had  raised  the  whole  family  to  engage  in  prayer  with 
her  and  for  her, — that  she  had  never  ceased  praying  and 
reading  all  night,  and  when  he  left  her  she  was  worse  than 
ever,  and  he  feared  she  was  'going  wrong  in  her  mind.' 
He  had  done  all  he  could  to  pacify  her,  and  said  to  her, 
if  she  wanted  to  be  converted,  to  take  the  matter  coolly, 
and  not  create  an  uproar  about  the  house  to  alarm  the 
neighbors. 

A  Novel  Group. — "Before  reaching  the  house,  I  heard 
her  voice  in  loud  and  earnest  and  continuous  prayer. 
When  I  opened  the  door  and  looked  in,  I  saw  her  mother 
and  two  sisters,  all  on  their  knees  and  in  tears.  In  the 
centre  of  the  group,  the  picture  of  woe,  was  the  'stricken 
one,'  with  eyes  upturned  to  heaven,  and  face  covered  and 
seamed  with  tears.  Her  arms  were  now  extended  to  their 
utmost  length,  as  if  to  grasp  some  distant  dnd  coveted 
object,  and  then  brought  together  with  violence  as  she 
clasped  her  hands,  as  if  in  mortal  agony,  whilst  from  her 
lips  there  burst  forth  words  of  fire,  as  living  streams  from 


REVIVAL  IN  IRELAND. 


241 


a  burning  mountain.  'O  Christ,  help  me!  Lord  Jesus, 
save  my  guilty  soul!  O  Jesus,  come;  come  soon,  and 
give  relief  to  my  guilty  soul!  O  thou  quickening  Spirit, 
come !  Oh,  create  in  me  a  new  heart,  a  clean  heart !  Oh, 
take  away  this  hard  and  stony  heart,  and  give  me  a  heart 
of  flesh!'  Then  as  her  eyes  rested  on  me,  as  I  stood 
riveted  to  the  spot,  witnessing  in  silence  this  exciting  and 
wonderful  scene, — for  I  never  had  heard  such  prayers  be- 
fore,— she  exclaimed,  without  rising  from  her  kneeling  pos- 
ture, *Oh,  here  is  my  minister!  I  knew  I  would  have  no 
peace  till  he  came-  Oh,  come;  come  pray  for  my  guilty 
soul!'  I  knelt  beside  her  and  prayed,  her  voice  accom- 
panying mine  all  the  time,  while  her  expressions  at  inter- 
vals were  so  rich,  varied,  and  scriptural,  that  I  had  often 
to  pause,  and  then  to  follow  instead  of  lead,  as  text  after 
text  from  Old  and  New  Testament,  prophet  and  psalmist, 
Christ  and  apostle,  were  changed  into  beautiful  and  impas- 
sioned prayer.  Such  asking,  seeking,  striving  to  enter  the 
'kingdom,'  I  never  saw  before.  It  was,  indeed,  Mercy 
knocking  her  loudest  knocks  at  the  door  of  the  heavenly 
mansion,  so  that  the  Lord  himself,  startled  by  the  peals 
which  rouse  up  all  the  inmates,  comes  quickly,  and  with  a 
smile  opens  the  door,  and  takes  her  by  the  hand  and  brings 
her  in. 

"The  struggle  is  over.  She  rises  up,  and  begins  the 
song  of  triumph !  What  a  change — a  perfect  transforma- 
tion !  The  cloud  is  passed  away,  and  God,  like  the  sun  in 
his  glory,  is  lifting  up  on  her  the  light  of  His  countenance. 
Her  eye,  as  she  sings,  is  lighted  up  with  strange  and  un- 
earthly fire.  Her  voice  is  no  longer  tremulous  and  plain- 
tlive,  but  now  rings  like  a  trumpet;  while  her  whole  face 


OLt)  TiMfi  EeOGION. 


is  covered  with  a  smile,  such  as  we  might  suppose  an  angel 
to  wear. 

"'Let  us  sing,'  said  she  again,  *the  51st  psalm.  Oh!  I 
bless  God  for  that  psalm,  and  for  all  the  psalms  I  learned 
in  the  Sunday-school  and  Bible-class.'  I  may  here  remark, 
that  the  Psalms  have  been  with  all  the  converts  here 
sources  of  great  joy.  What  would  we  have  done  without 
the  Psalms?'  was  an  exclamation  often  heard.  'Sir,'  said 
a  servant  girl  to  her  master,  after  hearing  the  51st,  130th, 
and  Ii6th  Psalms,  'surely  some  persons  long  ago  must 
have  felt  as  I  feel,  for  those  psalms  seem  to  have  been 
written  for  their  use  and  comfort." 

"When  the  psalm  was  sung,  'Now,'  said  our  first  con- 
vert, 'father,  mother,  sisters,  down  on  your  knees,  and  we 
will  pray  for  you.  O  Lord,  save  my  father,  and  mother, 
and  sister,'  etc.  At  her  request  I  read  to  the  family  the 
second  chapter  of  Acts  and  sang  the  60th  Paraphrase ;  and 
during  the  singing  another  sister,  *\vho  was  standing  with 
a  child  in  her  arms,  fell  to  the  ground,  and  went  through 
the  same  process,  being,  if  possible,  more  violent,  rolling 
on  the  floor  in  agony,  tearing  her  hair,  wringing  her  hands, 
and  in  heart-rending  tones  exclaiming,  "Oh,  is  there  no 
pardon  for  me?  I  am  too  great  a  sinner  to  be  forgiven. 
O  God !  for  Christ's  sake,  save  me,  save  me !'  Her  sister, 
now  filled  with  joy,  stands  over  her  like  a  ministering 
spirit,  and  cheers  her  by  gospel  promises  and  earnest 
prayer.  'Now,'  said  she,  'I  shall  have  a  sister  in  the 
Lord.  Who  would  have  thought  of  it, — two  souls  con- 
verted this  morning  in  this  house?' 

Ef¥ect  of  the  Strange  Tidings.— "The  Lord  had  begun 
His  work.  The  strange  news  spread  from  lip  to  lip,  house 
to  house,  over  the  country.  Like  the  'fiery  cross,'  it  roused 


REVIVAL  IN  IRELAND. 


243 


the  people,  and  old  and  young,  men  and  women,  husbands 
and  wives,  little  girls  and  mothers  with  infants  in  their 
arms,  ran  to  witness  the  strange  doings,  and  hear  the  wild, 
wondrous,  but  heavenly  words  that  flowed  from  the  lips  of 
these  plain  country  girls,  changed  in  a  few  hours,  by  the 
Spirit  of  the  Lord,  into 'new  creatures.'  What  is  this?  Is 
this  conversion?  Is  this  the  work  of  the  Spirit  of  the^ 
Lord?  Has  God  come  down  to  earth?  Are  the  'last 
days  come?'  or  have  these  girls  gone  mad?  are  asked  on 
every  hand.  The  reply  is — These  are  the  last  days,  and 
God  is  beginning  to  pour  out  His  Spirit  on  'all  flesh.' 

"That  evening  a  prayer-meeting  was  held  at  this  house 
in  the  open  air,  in  the  street  before  the  door.  It  was  a  still, 
fine  summer  evening,  and  under  the  clear,  open  sky  hun- 
dreds of  all  ranks  and  ages  met  to  unite  in  prayer,  looking 
up  to  Heaven  for  a  blessing.  Farmers  and  farm-servants, 
men,  women,  and  little  children,  Roman  Catholics  and 
Protestants  of  various  names,  knelt  together  on  the  hard 
ground,  reviving  the  recollection  of  primitive  times,  and 
forgetting  or  overlooking  for  the  time  every  mark  of  dis- 
tinction in  the  common  awe  which  all  felt,  and  in  the 
.earnest  prayer  which  all  offered  up  to  God.  A  psalm  is 
sung,  a  word  of  exhortation  given,  and  prayer  offered  up, 
and  the  benediction  pronounced,  but  the  multitude  stand 
still.  Another  psalm  is  sung,  arid  now  the  converts  rush 
in  among  their  friends  and  neighbors,  shouting,  pleading, 
and  with  heaving  hearts,  and  sparkling  eyes,  and  beaming 
countenances,  and  in  strange  sweet  tones,  telHng  of  their 
new-born  joys.  The  multitude  heaves  to  and  fro  like  a 
ship  in  a  storm;  and  like  drunken  men  in  the  streets  the 
men  stagger  and  fall  with  a  shout  or  a  deep  sigh.  Tears 
are  shed,  and  groans,  as  if  from  dying  men,  are  heard. 


244 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


Prayer  and  praise,  tears  and  smiles,  mingle  together.  Hus- 
bands and  wives  are  locked  in  each  other's  arms,  weeping 
and  praying  together;  while  those  who  came  to  scoff  stand 
still,  and  in  'fear  and  trembling'  contemplate  this  strange 
thing  that  is  going  on  before  their  eyes.  The  dead  are 
rising  from  their  graves,  as  if  at  the  sound  of  the  archan- 
gel's trumpet,  for  the  Lord  is  quickening  those  who  were 
dead  in  trespasses  and  sins.  As  the  people  separated,  they 
formed  into  groups,  and  marched  to  their  respective  homes, 
some  singing,  some  praying,  some  mourning,  and  some 
rejoicing.   One  or  two  had  to  remain  all  night. 

"Each  meeting  exhibited  all  the  features  of  the  first  one, 
with  some  little  variety.  Some  were  in  the  first,  and  some 
in  the  second  stage,  some  weeping,  and  others  rejoicing, 
some  calm  and  still,  some  again  suffering  intense  agony, 
and  yet  in  their  agony  praising  the  Lord  for  not  passing 
them  by.  Some  were  very  weak,  and  for  days  partook  of 
no  food.  *I  will  not,'  said  one,  'eat  nor  drink  until  I  have 
found  peace ;'  and  she  kept  her  word ;  and  then,  like 
David,  when  the  trial  was  over,  she  rose  up  and  washed 
herself,  and  joyfully  partook  of  what  was  set  before  her-  . 

"On  the  first  Saturday  evening  when  we  met  in  the 
church  for  prayer,  the  scene  was  indescribable ;  the  groups 
from  all  the  districts  to  which  the  revival  had  spread,  and 
it  spread  with  amazing  rapidity,  came  literally  'walking, 
and  leaping,  and  praising  God;'  and  as  they  rus-hed  into 
each  other's  arms,  straining  and  pressing  each  other  to 
their  breasts  in  the  front  of  the  pulpit  and  up  the  aisles, 
the  people  'were  filled  with  wonder  and  amazement  at  that 
which  had  happened  unto  them.' 

Church  and  Graveyard  Scene. — "On  the  following 
Sabbath  th^  work  went  on.   Arrangements  were  made  to 


REVIVAL  IN  IRELAND, 


245 


keep  down  excitement,  and  confine  the  converts  to^their 
own  seats,  and  the  pubHc  services  were  not  disturbed.  In 
the  evening,  for  the  first  time,  a  neighboring  minister  came 
to  my  aid,  and  a  layman  from  Belfast  also  joined  in  our 
services.  I  gave  a  short  address,  stating  what  the  Lord 
had  done  among  us,  when  one  of  the  converts,  our  first 
one,  rose,  and  with  beaming  countenance  and  eyes,  which 
told  of  the  joys  within  the  heart,  said  a  few  things  to  the 
people,  when  here  and  there  throughout  the  church,  parties 
rose  and  went  out,  laboring  under  deep  conviction,  and  im- 
mediately the  graveyard  is  filled  with  groups  singing  and 
praying  around  the  prostrate  bodies  of  men  and  women. 
Some  are  as  in  a  trance,  others  crying  for  mercy.  Some 
are  still  falHng  into  the  arms  of  friends,  and  sinking  as  into 
a  swoon.  Some  stagger  to  a  distance,  and  drop  on  their 
knees  to  pray  over  the  graves  of  the  dead ;  and  a  few  rush 
to  the  gates,  and  fly  in  terror  from  the  scene.  The  converts 
are  flying  from  group  to  group,  and  raise  the  loud  shout  of 
triumph  as  one  after  another,  like  the  jailer  of  Philippi,  is 
seen  trembling  and  heard  crying  out,  'What  shall  I  do  to  be 
saved?'  Up  to  this  evening  the  work  had  gone  on  chiefly 
among  the  females ;  soon,  however,  the  men  were  im- 
pressed; and  I  shall  never  forget  the  look  and  shout  of 
joy  with  which  one  of  these  females  pro(:laimed  the  tri- 
umph of  the  Lord,  when  strong  men  were  writhing  in 
agony,  or  stretched  out  still  and  calm,  but  with  clasped 
6ands  and  heaving  heart,  on  the  graves  around.  I  think  I 
see  her  now, — her  bonnet  hanging  behind  her  head,  her 
Bible  in  her  hand  above  her  head,— and  I  hear  still  her 
shout,  'The  men  are  coming  now — the  men  are  coming 
now For  ten  days  and  more  the  whole  country  was  in  a 
§tate  of  intense  excitement. 


246 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


A  Young  Deborah. — "I  met  one  of  them  when  going 
to  visit  a  man  and  his  wife.  She  had  visited  some  houses, 
read,  exhorted,  and  prayed.  'The  Lord,'  said  she  to  ail  the 
people  in  these  houses,  'has  sent  me  to  bring  you  to  Him- 
He  is  waiting  for  you.  Arise,  and  follow  me.'  And 
strange,  but  true,  they  'immediately  rose  and  followed 
her.'  A  widow  woman,  her  sons  and  grandchildren,  a 
mother  with  one  child  in  her  arms,  and  another  at  her  feet, 
trembling  and  in  tears,  girls  and  boys  who  had  risen  from 
their  looms,  and  men  who  had  dropped  their  spades  and 
left  their  work  in  the  open  fields,  all  followed  her  across 
the  country,  while  she  marched  at  their  head  like  a  general. 
'Here,'  said  she,  when  I  met  her,  pointing  to  her  train  of 
followers,  'is  my  day's  work;  is  it  not  a  good  one?  "They 
wanted  me  to  stay  at  home,  but  I  would  not,  for  I  knew 
that  the  Lord  had  work  for  me  to  do.   He  has  given  me 

these.' — 'R  dear,'  said  I,  '  do  be  quiet,  and  don't  excite 

yourself,  or  people  will  say  you  are  going  mad.'  She  drew 
herself  up  in  the  most  commanding  manner,  and  measuring 
me  from  head  to  foot,  exclaimed,  'I  am  astonished  at  you, 

Mr.  M  ;  did  you  not  teach  me  in  your  Sunday-school 

and  Bible  class?  Oh,  I  can  teach  the  children  now.  I 
will  bring  them  to  Jesus.  Must  I  not  do  the  will  of  my, 
heavenly  Father  ?  Oh,  I  have  a  Father  now.  Do  you  not 
remember  the  words  of  Jesus,  when  the  Pharisees  reproved' 
Him  because  He  did  not  silence  the  little  children  who 
shouted  Hosannah  as  He  marched  into  Jerusalem? — 'If 
these  should  hold  their  peace,  immediately  the  very  stones 
would  cry  out.'  I  cannot  hold  my  peace.  It  is  not  I,  but 
the  Spirit  of  the  Lord,  that  is  speaking.'  I  was  awed  into 
silence  as  I  stood  before  this  young  Deborah,  and  in  the 
meantime  fell  into  the  rear,  and  became  one  of  her  follow- 


HEVI^TAL  IN  IRELAND. 


ers.  It  is  right  to  state,  that  in  a  few  days  she  calmed 
down,  and  became  what  she  still  continues  to  be — a  warm- 
hearted, zealous,  and  consistent  toUower  of  Jesus.  The 
excitement  is  gone,  but  not  the  Spirit  which  gave  it  birth. 
She  did  her  work.  She  roused  the  country,  and  then 
retired  into  private  life,  and  in  the  quiet  home  of  the 
family  circle  she  and  her  sisters  are  adorning  the  doctrine 
of  the  gospel  by  a  becoming  walk  and  conversation.  In- 
deed it  is  pleasing  to  have  to  record  the  same  testimony  in 
favor  of  all  the  other  converts  in  Dundrod  without  a  single 
exception.  Though  numbering  upwards  of  two  hundred, 
no  evil  things  as  yet  can  be  said  of  one  of  them. 

The  Work  in  the  Country  Round. — ''These  things 
which  I  have  described  took  place  in  and  around  Dundrod, 
the  church  being  the  centre;  but  in  other  parts  of  the 
country  the  work  went  on  satisfactorily,  but  especially  in 
a  wide  district  lying  between  us  and  the  Belfast  mountains. 
Here  the  progress  was  truly  amazing.  Had  the  French 
landed  in  Belfast,  and  the  news  spread  that  they  were  on 
their  march  toward  us,  there  could  not  have  been  greater 
commotion  among  the  people.  Many  had  been  stricken 
down  at  Dundrod,  and  brought  into  the  district,  and  every 
house  was  a  kind  of  hospital,  filled  with  the  wounded, 
from  whose  wounds  arrows  were  plucked  to  wound  afresh 
those  who  stood  around  them.  The  cry  on  all  sides  was, 
'The  Lord  is  at  hand,  go  ye  out  to  meet  him' — 'The  day 
of  the  Lord  is  come-'  When  I  visited  the  district,  I  found 
that  all  labor  was  completely  suspended,  and  that  all  the 
people  were  running  in  groups  from  house  to  house.  The 
mourning  was  in  its  extent,  if  not  in  its  nature,  like  that 
of  Egypt.  In  some  houses,  at  one  time,  I  counted  more 
than  a  score,  old  and  young,  more  or  less  affected.  The 


248 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


people  here  seemed  to  'take  it'  with  wonderful  rapfdity. 
There  was  a  regular  chain  of  meetings  kept  up  night  and 
day,  each  meeting  feeding  the  flame  of  zeal,  and  from  each, 
as  from  a  burning  altar,  live  coals  were  taken  to  touch  the 
cold  lips  and  fire  the  dead  souls  of  the  few  'careless  ones' 
elsewhere. 

Another  Deborah  and  her  Fellow-laborer. — "One  girl 
was  highly  blessed  and  honored  in  this  district.  She  had 
been  at  Dundrod,  and  was  there  converted.  It  had  the 
honor  of  being,  as  she  said,  her  birthplace.  She  was  well 
acquainted  with  the  Scriptures,  and  was  correct  and  blame- 
less in  her  life.  She  said  to  me,  'I  thought  I  was  a  good 
girl,  but  I  was  all  wrong.  I  never  was  on  the  narrow  way 
till  now.  I  knew  I  was  sound  in  the  faith,  but  I  wanted  a 
quickening,'  She  got  the  quickening,  and  the  change  was 
wonderful.  She  was  all  alive,  all.  on  fire,  and  went  through 
the  country  from  house  to  house  exhorting  the  careless ; 
but  her  chief  delight  was  in  comforting  those  who  were 
mourners.  She  soon  found  a  fellow-ilaborer.  A  young 
man  in  her  neighborhood,  of  wild  and  reckless  habits, 
treats  the  revival  with  scorn,  and  forbids  his  sisters  to  go 
too  near,  lest  they  might  bring  the  plague  home  with  them ; 
for  some  actually  shunned  at  first,  and  others  fled  from  our 
meetings  in  perfect  terror,  lest  they  might  'take  the  re- 
vival,' for  they  were  afraid  they  could  not  'stand  it.'  Like 
many  professing  Christians,  they  had  no  objection  to  wear 
the  crown,  but  they  would  not  endure  the  cross;  they 
would  enter  heaven,  but  not  through  the  strait  gate,  or 
along  the  thorny  path  of  much  tribulation.  They  could 
not  but  envy  the  joys,  but  they  shunned  the  sorrows  of 
the  children  of  God.  God  had,  however.  His  eye  on  this 
young  man,  and  the  Spirit  guided  the  young  girl  to  his 


REVIVAL  IN  IRELAND. 


249 


father's  house.  She  is  resolved  on  conquest.  She  lays  a 
gentle  hand  on  his  shoulder,  and,  fixing,  her  eyes  on  him, 
says,  *Archy,  won't  you  come?  I  know  you  '11  come. 
Come  to  Jesus.  I  see  it  in  your  eye,  you  are  coming. 
Pray,  Archy,  pray  for  the  Spirit.'  And  now  they  are  on 
their  knees  together ;  while  father  and  mother,  and  sisters 
and  brothers,  stand  awhile  in  wonder,  then  kneel  too,  and 
all  pray  for  the  Spirit  of  God.  Nor  did  they  pray  in  vain. 
The  young  man  struggles,  feels  a  choking  sensation  in  the 
throat,  and  a  pressure  on  his  heart ;  his  bosom  heaves  with 
strange  amotions.  The  strong  m^an  is  bowed  down,  the 
hard  heart  is  softening,  the  Spirit  is  striving;  and  now  the 
struggle  is  over,  and  another  Saul  stands  up,  and,  rejoicing 
in  his  new-born  freedom,  asks  work,  saying,  Xord,  what 
wilt  thou  have  me  to  do?'  The  work  is  given,  and  with 
all  his  heart  he  sets  about  doing  it.  In  his  family  he  works, 
and  all  the  inmates  are  changed;  father,  mother,  sisters, 
and  brothers,  blessing  God  for  bringing  salvation  into  their 
house.  Now  he  flies  in  breathless  haste  to  rouse  his  sleep- 
ing neighbors  and  friends.  He  stands  up  in  the  midst  of 
hundreds  in  the  open-air  meetings  proclaiming  the  glad 
tidings  of  salvation,  and  glorying  in  the  possession  of  a 
light,  and  life,  and  joy,  never  felt  nor  dreamed  of  before. 
He  seeks  his  old  companions,  whom  he  led  in  many  a  revel ; 
and  on  the  following  Sabbath,  in  the  face  of  the  most 
crowded  and  scJemn  assembly  ever  held  among  us,  he 
marches  up  at  the  head  of  nearly  one  hundred  individuals, 
who,  in  front  of  the  pulpit,  sign  the  total  abstinence  ptedge. 
His  mission  does  not  end  here.  He  and  others  visit  from 
house  to  house,  hold  prayer-meetings,  and  the  revival 
spreads  around  until  every  family  in  the  district  can  count 
its  converts ;  and  in  more  than  one  instance  whole  families 


250 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


'joy  in  God,  through  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  whom  they 
have  received  the  atonement.' 

''The  change  wrought  among  this  people  was  strange 
and  sudden;  it  was,  indeed,  from  'darkness  to  hght,'  from 
death  to  life.  The  Spirit  of  God  had  done  for  these  sleep- 
ers in  the  valley  what  tradition  says  Tell  will  do  some  day 
for  his  native  land,  when,  coming  forth  from  the  cave  where 
it  is  said  he  sleeps,  he  shall  sound  his  h(5rn  and  raise  the 
dead,  and  fill  his  native  valleys  with  bands  of  armed  men, 
ready  to  unfurl  the  banner  of  freedom,  and  trample  tyranny 
in  the  dust.  But  we  need  not  go  to  profane  history  or  the 
middle  ages  for  traditionary  legend  for  an  illustration  of 
what  took  place  in  and  around  Dundrod,  when  the  Spirit 
of  the  Lord  came  down  upon  the  people  and  quickened 
them,  even  as  when  He  came  upon  the  dry  bones  in  the 
Valley  of  vision-' 

A  Curious  Dream. — ''In  connection  with  this  won- 
drous vision,  which;  has  been  realized  almost  to  the  life  in 
all  its  parts  in  the  midst  of  us,  I  may  here  relate  a  strange 
dream  by  one  of  the  converts,  a  married  man,  in  mid  life — 
a  plain,  uneducated,  working  man,  who  told  me  he  never 
remembered  having  read,  or  heard  read,  the  passage  in 
Ezekiel  to  which  his  dream  bears  such  a  marked  resem- 
blance. He  was  smitten  down  when  going  home  from  one 
of  our  prayer-meetings,  and  while  sitting  in  his  house,  had 
in  his  half-sleepy,  trance-like  state  the  following  dream  or 
vision :  'I  saw,'  said  he,  'in  one  spot,  a  pile  of  bones  all 
in  a  heap,  and  in  another  place  a  heap  of  raw  flesh.  Then 
I  saw  a  strange  hand  from  a  shadowy  form  take  the  bones 
one  by  one,  and  arrange  them  in  their  proper  order  into  a 
skeleton.  Then  going  to  the  other  heap  it  took  piece  after 
piece  of  the  flesh,  and  put  them  all  over  the  bones,  andj 


REVIVAL  IN  IRELAND  251 


then  unfolding  some  thin  transparent  substance  like  skin, 
it  spread  it  over  the  body,  fitting  it  to  it.  Then  there  was 
a  rushing  as  of  wind,  and  immediately  the  body  stood  up- 
right, and  I  started,  for  it  was  myself.  I  had  seen  God 
making  me  over  again.  I  was  a  new  creature.  A  table 
was  set  before  me,  on  which  was  a  pipe  and  a  tumbler  of 
whiskey,  to  try  me,  and  show  that  I  was  changed.  I  could 
not  touch  either,  though  I  was  both  a  drinker  and  a 
smoker.' — 'And  have  you,'  said  I,  when  he  finished  his 
narrative,  which  I  have  given  almost  in  his  own  words, 
'given  up  the  pipe  and  the  bottle?' — 'I  have,"  said  he, 
*and  have  felt  no  desire  for  either  ever  since.' 

"There  is  life  now  in  the  people,  a  new,  a  spiritual  life. 
The  Spirit  has  quickened  hundreds  who  were  'dead  in 
trespasses  and  sins.'  The  cry  is  heard  on  all  sides,  'Such 
times,  such  glorious  times !  the  Lord  indeed  is  come.' 
Prayers  issue  from  lips  that  never  moved  in  audible  prayer 
before ;  and  oh,  such  prayers  !  so  rich  in  Scripture  language, 
so  fervent,  for  icy  hearts  are  melted  as  if  by  fire  from  heav- 
en. Men  and  women  pray;  father  follows  son,  or  a  sister 
a  brother,  like  the  gallant  leaders  of  some  forlorn  hope. 
When  the  foremost  have  fallen  in  the  track,  others  passing 
behind  push  on,  resolved  to  take  heaven  by  force,  and  not 
to  yield  until  they  themselves,  and  their  friends,  stand 
within  the  city  of  God. 

The  Farm-servant  in  the  Field. — "Having  heard  one 
day  that  a  young  man,  a  farm-servant,  had  been  brought 
under  conviction,  I  went  to  see  him.  I  called  at  his  mas- 
ter's house,  but  was  told  that  nothing  was  known  of  it; 
and  I  went  in  search  of  him  to  some  neighboring  houses 
in  which  were  converts,  thinking  it  probable  ,he  might  have 
gone  there.    On  my  way  I  heard  sounds  from  a  field  by 


252 


OLi)  TIME  RELIGION. 


the  wayside,  and  following  with  my  eye  the  direction  of 
the  sound,  saw  a  number  of  individuals  kneeling  at  some 
distance  at  the  back  of  a  ditch,  and  as  I  approached  I 
found  they  were  engaged  in  prayer.  He  had  been  taken  ill 
in  the  field,  where  he  had  been  weeding  corn.  At  a  distance 
lay  the  implement  of  husbandry  which  had  dropped  from 
his  hands.  Friends  had  gathered  around  him :  a  psalm 
was  sung,  and  now  they  are  engaged  in  prayer.  He  prays ; 
another  and  another  follows,  and  when  I  thought  all  had 
ended,  I  heard  the  sweet,  earnest,  pleading  voice  of  a 
young  girl,  who,  from  the  first  night,  was  prominent  among 
the  happy  converts ;  and  she  rose  with  a  smile,  and  all  re- 
joiced, for  their  prayers  being  ended,  the  young  man  stood 
in  the  midst  of  them,  blessing  and  praising  God  and  receiv- 
ing their  warm  congratulations. 

"Prayer-meetings  are  appointed  in  the  several  districts 
of  the  congregation,  but  wherever  there  is  an  earnest  seek- 
ing soul,  the  people  meet  for  prayer.  The  songs  of  ^ion, 
the  Psalms  of  David,  those  glorious  psalms  never  so  much 
prized  as  now,  ascend  from  almost  every  house.  And  in 
the  still  summer  evening,  strains  of  heavenly  music  seem 
to  float  on  the  tremulous  air.  Imagination  is  busy,  and 
no  wonder,  and  men  pause  on  the  highway  to  catch  the 
sweet  sounds,  now  soft  and  low,  rising  and  falling,  and  now 
ringing  like  the  chimes  of  church-bells.  They  thought  the 
angels  were  above  and  around  them.  They  thought  they 
heard  the  festive  chimes  of  heaven,  the  pealing  of  the  bells 
in  the  city  of  God,  as  the  heavenly  host  proclaimed  the 
triumphs  which  their  Lord  was  achieving  over  his  foes  on 
the  earth- 

'Hark,  how  they  sweetly  sing, 
Worthy  is  our  Saviour  King; 


REVIVAL  IN  IRELAND. 


^53 


'Lord  let  his  praises  ring, 
Praise,  praise  for  aye.' 

Closing  of  a  Public-house. — "There  were  many  delight- 
ful scenes  witnessed  during  the  progress  of  the  'revivar 
here,  not  alluded  to  in  the  above  narrative.  It  would  be 
impossible  to  describe  them  all,  or  even  do  more  than 
mention  them.  I  cannot,  however,  in  this  record,  pass 
over  one  which  excited  great  attention  at  the  time,  and 
produced  most  happy  results.  I  refer  to  the  closing  of 
one  of  our  largest  public-houses.  The  owner  did  a  large 
business,  and  was  making  money  fast.  He  had  a  wife  and 
rising  family  to  support.  But  he  had  a  conscience,  and 
had  for  some  time  feXt  uneasy  and  unhappy  in  his  mind 
because  he  could  not  reconcile  his  profession  as  a  Christian 
with  his  trade  as  a  publican.  He  has  told  me,  that  even 
before  the  revival,  he  could  not,  with  profit,  sit  under  my 
ministry,  and  dared  not  go  to  the  Lord's  table  while 
engaged  in  such  accursed  business.  The  revival  came. 
It  roused  his  conscience  afresh,  and  she  mounted  her 
throne,  and  gave  him  no  rest  until  her  right  to  reign  was 
acknowledged.  In  his  neighborhood,  particularly  in  one 
house,  were  many  cases  of  conviction,  and  many  meetings. 
He  attended  them  all;  saw,  and  heard,  and  judged  for 
himself.  He  said  to  me  one  morning,  'I  want  to  consult 
you  about  this  business  of  mine;  I  don't  like  it — I  have 
long  felt  unhappy  in  it — I  will  give  it  up.  Shall  I  do  so 
now — now,  or  wait  until  I  sell  out  my  stock?'  I  gave  him 
my  opinion,  and  on  that  same  evening  every  puncheon  of 
whiskey,  and  barrel  of  beer  and  ale,  every  bottle  and  glass, 
and  every  article  used  in  the  trade  had  disappeared;  and 
on  the  next  morning  I  saw  their  vacant  spaces  filled  with 
barrels  and  bags  of  meal  and  flour,  sides  of  bacon,  etc. 


254 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


This  was  a  noble  triumph.  Dagon  had  fallen  before  the 
ark  of  God.  One  fountain  of  evil — only  evil — is  closed 
forever.  Great  is  the  amazement  of  the  traveller,  when  he 
calls  the  next  day  for  his  customary  glass,  and  he  opens 
his  eyes,  and  stares  and  wonders;  and 

'Still  his  wonder  grows' 

when  he  steps  out  of  the  shop  and  finds  that  the  signboard 
is  gone.  "Tis  strange,  passing  strange!'  either  God  or 
the  devil  is  here.  Some  say,  *J-  1"-  is  gone  mad  like  the 
rest.  He  has  been  bewitched;  he  has  taken  the  revival.^ 
He  has,  indeed,  and  has  therefore  renounced  the  devil  and 
all  his  works.  In  the  public  meeting,  good  men  heartily 
joined  in  the  prayer  from  the  pulpit,  'God  bless  him,  and 
reward  him  an  hundredfold;'  and  God  heard  the  prayer, 
and  he  is  blessed,  and  rejoices  in  the  smiles  of  an  approving 
conscience,  and  is  thankful  for  the  grace  which  enabled 
him  to  trample  on  self  and  sin.  This  case  gave  a  great 
impulse  to  the  whole  movement.  Another  public-house 
soon  closed  its  doors,  and  the  third,  and  now  the  only  one 
in  the  neighborhood,  gets  almost  nothing  to  do,  and  will 
soon,  it  is  hoped,  pull  down  its  signboard,  starved  into 
surrender. 

"All  that  is  related  above  occurred  within  a  very  short 
period  of  time;  for  the  change  that  took  place  was  truly 
wonderful,  sudden,  and  almost  miraculous ;  resjembling  the 
transition  from  winter  to  summer,  and  death  to  life,  in 
some  countries  of  the  East.  The  rain  came  down  in  tor- 
rents, and  at  once  flooded  the  earth,  and  made  it  bring 
forth  and  bud,  giving  seed  to  the  sower,  and  bread  to  the 
eater.  'The  mountains  and  the  hills  broke  forth  before  us 
into  singing,  and  all  the  trees  of  the  field  did  clap  their 


REVIVAL  IN  IRELAND. 


255 


hancis,  for  instead  of  the  thorn  came  up  the  fir-tree,  and 
instead  of  the  brier  came  up  the  myrtle-  tree.' 

"Like  the  retiring  waters  of  the  Nile,  the  flood  has  sub- 
sided, but  it  has  left  behind  it  a  richer  and  deeper  soil. 
The  good  seed,  as  in  Egypt,  has  been  sown,  with  faith  ai;d 
hope,  in  great  abundance  on  the  surface  of  the  waters,  and 
when  it  sinks  into  the  soil  when  the  flood  has  disappeared, 
we  believe  it  will  yield  a  rich,  abundant,  and  abiding  har- 
vest. We  have  had  our  years,  long  years  of  famine ;  but 
we  are  now  ^eating  the  good  of  the  land,'  and  hope  to  live 
long  on  the  fruits  of  the  great  revival  of  1859. 

"This  was  all  the  Lord's  doing,  and  it  was  wondrous  in 
our  eyes.  No  event  since  Pentecost  has  so  signally  dis- 
played the  Divine  sovereignty,  and  so  illustrated  and  es- 
tablished the  doctrine  of  the  free  grace  of  God. 

"During  the  flood-tide  here,  but  especially  when  it 
began  to  abate,  the  surface  was  somewhat  ruffled.  There 
was  a  little  agitation  on  the  face  of  the  waters.  Here,  as 
elsewhere,  narrow-minded  bigotry  did  its  worst  to  plough 
up  into  deep  furrows  the  calm  surface  which  otherwise  had 
remained  smooth  and  clear.  But  God  has  brought  good 
out  of  evil.  As  in  the  ocean,  while  the  ripples  above  set 
in  motion  the  straws,  and  create  the  'bubbles  which  float 
on  the  abyss,'  in  the  depths  beneath  there  is  undisturbed 
calm;  so  the  children  of  God  have  descended  into  the 
unfathomed  depths  of  God's  unchanging  counsels,  and  have 
found  peace  and  undisturbed  repose  in  the  eternal  love  of 
their  covenanted  God  and  Father." 

About  a  hundred  and  seventy  years  ago,  the  "Maiden 
City"  was  the  scene  of  an  event  of  thrilling  interest,  for  on 
its  walls  was  raised  the  standard  under  which  magnani- 
mous defiance  was  hurled  against  the  myrmidons  of  a 


256 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


Popish  bigot,  'and  a  successful  '^-low  was  struck  for  faith 
and  freedom.  Rich  in  historic  ^  v>?ociations,  it  has  within 
the  last  few  months  witnessed  a  moral  revolution  in  the 
experience  of  hundreds  of  its  population— leaving  on  the 
minds  of  the  community  a  mingled  sentiment  of  awe  and 
admiration  at  the  wonders  which  grace  has  wrought. 

I  cannot  better  introduce  the  notice  of  the  work  in" 
Derry,  than  by  inserting  a  letter,  with  which  I  have  been 
favored,  from  the  Rev.  Robert  Wallace,  a  highly  esteemed 
minister  of  the  Wesleyan  body,  then  in  tjiat  city — at  pres- 
ent in  Belfast,  and  Chairman  of  the  district  in  which  he 
now  resides.  His  relation  to  the  church  of  which  he  is  a 
minister,  enables  him  to  testify  to  the  work,  not  in  Derry 
only,  but  in  other  districts. 

"Very  early  in  the  year  my  attention  was  directed  to 
some  remarkable  ,  accounts  of  what  was  said  to  be  a  great 
revival,  accompanied  by  extraordinary  manifestations.  On 
comparing  these  with  what  I  had  read  of  revivals  in  En- 
gland, Scotland,  and  America,!  soon  came  to  the  conchision 
that  it  was  a  work  of  God,  and,  with  others,  began  to  look 
/or  the  gracious  visitation  in  the  city  of  Derry,  where  1 
was  placed  at  the  time.  More  than  three  months  passed 
away,  however,  before  we  had  anything  more  than  a  gen- 
eral spirit  of  expectation.  Early  in  the  summer,  arrange- 
ments were  made  to  bring  down  from  Ballymena  and 
Ballymoney  a  number  of  those  who  had  been  recently 
brought  under  gracious  influence,  and  it  was  agreed  that 
they  should  take  part  in  the  public  services  in  the  Pres- 
byterian and  Wesleyan  Churches,  and  also  in  the  open 
air  at  the  market-place.  At  these  services  great  crowds 
attended.  The  persons  recently  awakened  spoke  with 
^reat  simplicity  of  the  wonderful  change  that  Go^  had 


REVIVAL  IN  IRELAND. 


257 


wrought  in  them  by  grace  in  the  course  of  the  las,t  few 
weeks  or  days.  A  solemn  awe  rested  upon  the  people; 
several  were  stricken  down  in  the  manner  we  had  heard 
of,  and  a  still  greater  number  were  cut  to  the  heart,  and 
earnestly  sought  the  Lord.  At  the  commencement  of  the 
meetings,  a  number  of  ministers,  representing  various  de- 
nominations, met  by  request  at  the  house  of  the  senior 
Presbyterian  minister,  and  arranged  plans  for  combined 
efforts  to  promote  the  cause  of  God;  and  in  this  manner 
a  service  was  held  in  the  market-place  every  evening 
throughout  the  summer.  The  utmost  unity  prevailed,  and 
this  greatly  tended  to  deepen  the  interest  among  the  peo- 
ple. 

"The  gracious  influence  visited  place  after  place  in  a 
very  remarkable  manner,  each  town  and  neighborhood 
seemingly  taken  in  a  regular  course.  It  would  be  incon- 
sistent with  the  brevity  I  should  observe,  to  go  into  details, 
althou^  I  have  had  opportunities  of  observing  them  in  a 
great  many  parts  of  the  province.  I  have  seen  strong  men 
prostrated  as  if  stricken  with  a  ball, — some  apparently  in 
great  agony,  and  others  seemingly  unconscious, — most 
professing  to  find  peace,  and  some  remaining  unhappy  so 
long  as  the  meeting  continued.  I  have  seen  as  many  as 
fifty  in  a  state  of  prostration  at  once.  I  saw  at  least  sixty 
persons  who  professed  to  find  peace  with  God  at  one  meet- 
ing. I  found  the  subjects  of  this  awakening  to  comprise 
all  ages,  and,  to  some  extent,  all  ranks ;  except  that,  so  f^r 
as  my  experience  goes,  few  of  the  upper,  or  even  middle 
classes  became  subjects  of  bodily  prostration.  I  have  seen, 
again  and  again,  that  wonderful  change  of  countenance 
which  attracted  so  much  attention.  I  had  many  opportu- 
nities of  witnessing  the  extraordinary  attachment  which 


258 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


the  young  converts  manifested  towards  each  other.  I 
know  some  remarkable  cases  of  conversion  from  gross  ' 
wickedness,  and  several  persons  who  gave  up  what  they 
considered  an  unlawful  calling  as  the  result  of  their  awak- 
ening. I  know  several  Roman  Catholics  who  never  at- 
tended mass  from  the  day  they  were  stricken,  and  some 
who  can  give  as  intelligent  an  account  of  their  conversion 
to  Qod  as  you  could  meet  with  anywhere.  I  am  not  able 
to  say  exactly  how  many  have  been  received  during  the 
year  into  our  own  communion,  or  placed  upon  trial ;  but  I 
have  no  doubt  that  the  numbers  are  larger  than  those  of 
any  previous  year.  But  as  to  the  people  generally,  after 
examining  the  facts  as  far  as  I  could  gather  them,  I  judge 
that  not  less  than  one  hundred  thousand  persons  in  Ulster 
were  brought  under  gracious  influence  during  that  time. 
How  far  these  have  remained  steadfast  I  cannot  say.  I 
have  heard  of  some  going  back  to  former  wickedness,  but 
none  such  have  come  under  my  own  knowledge. 

"The  prominent  features  of  the  revival,  as  far  as  came 
under  my  notice,  were — the  suddenness  of  the  awakening, 
the  bodily  prostrations,  and  the  great  extent  to  which  the 
whole  people  were  impressed.  The  peculiar  features  were 
that,  unlike  any  former  revival,  it  had  the  countenance  of 
almost  the  entire  secular  press ;  that  it  was  not  confined 
to  any  one  denomination,  but  embraced  all  evangelical 
churches ;  and  that,  up  till  the  present  time,  all  those  have 
maintained  an  unprecedented  unity.  I  consider  it  the 
most  glorious  work  of  God  ever  known  in  this  country  in 
so  short  a  time ;  and,  although  we  have  not  the  excitement 
of  last  summer  and  autumn,  I  believe  there  is  a  religious 
influence  upon  the  people  of  Ulster  surpassing  anything 
ever  before  realized," 


REVIVAL  IN  IRELAND. 


259 


In  continuation  of  the  narrative  of  the  work  in  Derry, 
the  Rev.  Richard  Smith  observes: 

"At  a  morning  service,  conducted  by  Mr.  Smyth,  of  Ar- 
magh, a  Roman  Catholic  in  attendance  had  been  brought 
under  conviction,  and  the  first  person  in  the  evening  who 
was  'stricken'  was  also  a  Roman  Catholic-  When  the 
unearthly  cries  were  uttered,  and  the  name  of  Jesus 
sounded  over  that  dense  congregation  from  the  lips  of  a 
sinner  who  felt  herself  on  the  brink  of  hell,  a  thrill  passed 
through  every  heart  that  is  utterly  indescribable.  The 
whole  auditory  seemed  smitten  with  a  sudden  and  univer- 
sal paralysis.  They  went  home,  but  many  were  ill  at  ease. 
Religion  had  assumed  a  new  aspect ;  there  appeared  to  be 
in  it  work  for  the  heart  of  man,  and  multitudes  felt  that 
hitherto  they  had  misunderstood  its  nature.  Some  have 
told  me  that  they  never  closed  an  eye  that  night,  but  the 
Visions  of  their  head  troubled  them,  on  their  beds'.  They, 
rose  and  dragged  themselves  to  their  business  with  the 
arrow  of  God  fast  in  their  ^ouls,  or  sat  in  their  rooms  com- 
muning with  distressed  hearts.  Next  evening  a  meeting 
was  held  in  the  same  church,  addressed  by  a  number  of 
ministers,  in  calm  and  unimpassioned  terms;  and  at  that 
meeting  there  could  not  have  been  less  than  fifty  savingly 
impressed.  Not  more  than  ten  suffered  from  physical  pros- 
tration, and  these  cases  did  not  assume  any  cataleptic  type- 
The  work  had  graciously  begun,  and  an  earnest  had  been 
given  of  the  showers  of  blessings  that  have  desceiided 
since. 

"We  have  had  in  this  city  comparatively  few  cases  of 
bodily  affection  or  prostration— not  one  in  ten— perhaps 
not  one  in  twenty.  One  of  the  most  trying  and  really 
ditsressing  cases  that  came  under  my  observation,  was  th^t 


260 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


of  a  girl  who  imagined  herself  in  hell  for  three  hours,  and 
still  out  of  the  depths  of  hell  cried  to  Jesus  for  mercy.  Her 
face,  during  this  time,  gave  one  the  idea  of  a  lost  soul; 
there  was  over  it  the  shadow  of  a  hopeless  immortahty. 
At  the  evM.  of  three  hours  she  fell  over  into  a  kind  of 
trance.  Her  face  resumed  its  natural  appearance ;  it  then 
became  unnnatural  once  more,  but  in  a  different  manner; 
the  radiance  of  glory  overspread  it,  and  for  four  hours  she 
seemed  to  be  in  the  regions  of  the  blest.  Of  the  'visions' 
she  had  during  that  time  she  never  wished  to  speak,  and  I 
never  encouraged  her  to  do  so,  for  I  knew  her  mind  to 
have  been  strung  to  an  ecstatic  pitch;  but  I  rejoice  to  say 
that  she  continues  steadfast  in  the  faith  of  Jesus,  and  is  an 
example  of  humility  and  love,  and  all  the  other  graces  of 
the  Spirit.  I  have  much  delight  in  testifying  that  I  am 
not  aware  of  one  single  'stricken'  case  in  Derry  that  has 
turned  out  to  be  spurious. 

Agencies  Employed. — "Except  at  the  first  two  meet- 
ings, we  dispensed  entirely  in  Derry  with  the  aid  of  con- 
verts in  addressing  meetings.  Those  who  were  brought  to 
Jesus  in  the  revival  were  of  incalculable  aid,  at  anxious 
inquirers'  meetings,  in  praying  with  the  convinced  and 
distressed,  in  conversing  with  the  anxious,  in  directing  the 
perplexed  and  in  visiting  from  house  to  house;  but  they 
never  took  part  in  the  public  meetings  in  the  city.  Many 
of  the  young  men  of  the  city  were,  indeed,  much  blessed 
in  other  districts  of  the  county — in  Donegal,  Tyrone,  Fer- 
managh, and  Cavan.  Some  of  them  speak  with  much 
power  and  fervor,  and  I  can  testify  (for  I  took  some  of 
them  with  me  to  meetings  in  the  country)  that  their  sim- 
ple and  heart-stirring  words  were  acknowledged  of  God 
to  the  rousing  of  many  a  careless  sinner-    One  young 


REVIVAL  IN  IRELAND. 


261 


man  who  had  been  brought  to  Jesus  in  our  congregation, 
and  whom  I  knew  to  be  quahfied,  from  his  knowledge  of 
Scripture,  to  address  meetings,  was  asked  by  me  to  go  for 
this  purpose  to  the  country.  'Ah !'  said  he,  'don't  ask 
me.' — 'Why  not  ?'  asked  I ;  'are  you  not  ready  to  testify 
for  Jesus?' — 'I  am  ready  in  one  way/  was  his  reply,  'but 
not  in  another.  I  am  willing,  but  not  able.'  Then,  pulling 
a  little  Testament  from  his  pocket,  he  opened  it,  and 
pointed  me  to  Luke  xxiv.  49,  where  Christ  says  to  the 
apostles,  'But  tarry  ye  at  Jerusalem  until  ye  be  endued 
with  power  from  on  high.'  I  saw  the  drift  of  his  humility, 
and  said,  'Well,  wait  a  little ;  God  will  give  you  the  power/ 
And  so  He  did.  That  young  man  has  spoken  and  wrought 
for  Jesus;  and  souls  have  been  given  to  him  as  a  reward 
in  the  day  of  Christ.  It  would  have  been  well  if  all  had 
tarried,  as  he  did,  for  establishment  in  the  faith,  and  for 
further  enlargement  of  the  knowledge  of  Christian  doc- 
trine, before  becoming  so  forward  in  the  exercise  of  their 
gifts. 

Extent  of  the  Work. — "I  am  not  acquainted  with  any 
locality  where  the  gracious  work  was  more  general  among 
all  classes  of  the  community  than  here.  There  was  an 
impression  abroad,  especially  at  a  distance  from  the  re- 
vival districts,  that  it  was  only  the  ignorant,  and  those  in 
the  humbler  ranks  of  life,  who  were  visited  with  the  in- 
fluence of  the  revival.  I  believe  that  impression  to  have 
been  unfounded  regarding  every  locality,  and  most  cer- 
tainly regarding  Derry.  From  the  highest  to  the  lowest, 
not  only  were  serious  impressions  predominant,  but  the 
evidences  of  saving  conversions  were  afforded.  Men  of  ed- 
ucation, and  men  of  business  talents — women  of  refined 
mental  culture  were  brought  to  weep  and  lament  over 


26^ 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


their  unbelieving  hearts,  and  had  eventually  their  sorrow 
turned  into  joy.  A  young  man,  holding  a  most  responsi- 
ble position,  possessed  of  a  highly  cultivated  mind,  of 
great  reading,  and  of  lamentable  freedom  in  religious 
opinions,  whose  heaven  seemed  to  be  in  the  present,  and 
who  acknowledged,  in  effect,  no  higher  God  than  his  own 
intellect ;  whose  universe  was  the  circle  in  which  he  moved, 
and  who  never  scrupled  to  point  a  jest  at  the  expense 
of  the  solemnity  of  truth — attended  a  revival  meeting,  to 
'study'  (as  he  said)  'some  phases  of  fanaticism.'  That 
night  a  hand  was  laid  upon  him,  heavier  than  he  could 
have  conceived  anything  invisible  could  be,  and  next  day 
he  was  agonizing  under  conscious  guilt.  Meeting  a  min- 
ister, he  grasped  his  hand,  and  with  subdued  breathings 
said,  'I  will  scoff  no  more  at  this ;  God  is  not  to  be  laughed 
at-'  The  Lord,  who  searcheth  the  hearts,  knows  whether 
his  convictions  have  resulted  in  that  faith  which  gives  per- 
manent joy  and  peace.  If  there  is  a  film  over  his  eye  still, 
there  is  no  presumption  in  beHeving  that  the  good  work 
will  be  perfected,  and  that  the  path  will  shine  brighter  and 
brighter  unto  perfect  day. 

"On  the  other  hand,  the  Spirit  of  God  reached  the  most 
illiterate ;  and  in  many  instances,  where  not  a  letter  of  the 
alphabet  was  known,  the  name  of  Jesus  and  His  redemp- 
tion were  familiar  to  the  heart  and  lip. 

"All  denominations  in  the  city  partook  of  the  gracious 
shower;  the  zeal  of  believers  was  quickened;  and  if  the 
revival  had  done  nothing  else  save  stirring  up  God's  pec* 
pie  to  greater  and  more  combined  efforts  for  the  extension 
of  Messiah's  kingdom,  it  would  have  been  no  mean  result 
of  the  holy  and  grand  excitements  of  the  year  1859.  ^ 
am  not  prepared  to  endorse  all  that  has  been  said  about 


REVIVAL.  IN  IRELAND. 


263 


the  actual  number  of  conversions,  for  I  have  seen  state- 
ments put  forward  that  conversions  in  this  city  are  to  be 
numbered  by  thousands.  That  I  do  not  believe;  and 
nothing  is  to  be  gained  by  exaggeration.  It  is  better  for 
us  to  keep  within  the  mark  if  we  venture  upon  calcula- 
tions of  this  kind.  No  doubt  the  silent  impressions  of 
saving  grace  have  been  made  upon  many  whose  names 
are  unknown  to  ministers,  and  who  as  yet  are  only  known 
in  the  Lamb's  Book  of  Life.  But  when  a  considerable 
margin  is  left  for  such,  I  do  not  think  that  there  were 
more  than  a  thousand  converts  in  the  whole  city.  Yet 
even  this  is  a  mighty  host,  when  we  remember  that,  in  the 
warfare  of  the  cross,  *one  of  you  shall  chase  a  thousand' 
— that  one  sanctified  soul  in  a  city  will  outweigh  the  fee- 
ble efforts  of  a  thousand  in  the  miserable  hosts  of  ungod- 
liness. I  find  that  at  the  last  communion  in  the  First 
Presbyterian  Congregation  in  the  city  there  were  about 
one  hundred  communicants  above  the  average,  and  when 
I  remember  that  there  were  perhaps  not  much  less  than 
a  hundred  Sabbath-school  scholars  savingly  impressed 
who  did  not  come  to  the  Lord's  Table,  I  am  free  to  give 
my  opinion  that  in  that  congregation  there  were  perhaps 
two  hundred  brought  into  the  fold  of  Jesus.  Take  this, 
along  with  the  the  revival  of  God's  own  saints,  and  you  form 
some  conception  of  what  God  has  done  for  us.  But  this  is 
what  has  been  done  in  all  the  congregations  in  the  city, 
in,  I  should  say,  like  proportion,  some  more  and  some  less. 
One  peculiar  feature  of  the  work  here  was  this, — no  one 
congregation  took  any  lead  as  distinguished  for  revival 
spirit.  The  four  Presbyterian,  the  Reformed,  the  Inde- 
pendent, and  the  Wesleyan,  seemed  all  equally  favored 
of  God,  and  there  was  no  one  place  to  which  strangers 


264 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION, 


were  specially  attracted.  Hence  I  think  I  may  fairly  take 
the  statistics  of  our  congregation  as  a  key  to  the  whole, 
and  form  an  estimate  accordingly.  It  will  be  found  that 
my  calculation,  as  given  above,  is  not  extravagant,  but 
is  probably  greatly  short  of  the  real  state  of  things. 

"Of  the  Episcopal  congregations  I  know  nothing,  as 
they  studiously  mantained  an  isolated  position,  at  least  so  * 
far  as  clerical  recommendations  and  Episcopal  injunctions 
could  compass  that  object.''    *    *    *  * 

The  Archepiscopal  City. — It  was  not  till  the  middle 
of  August  that  the  city  of  Armagh  was  visited  by  the  gra- 
cious movement.  For  at  least  two  months  previously, 
it  had  been  anxiously  anticipated.  Meetings  had  been 
held,  and  persons  from  other  districts  had  been  specially 
brought  to  narrate  something  of  the  scenes  in  which  they 
had  themselves  shared;  but  no  applianaces  of  this  descrip- 
tion seemed  to  have  had  any  place  assigned  them  in  con- 
nection with  the  awakening  in  Armagh.  In  passing  through, 
a  few  days  after  the  ''outburst,"  I  found  the  brethren  in  the 
very  midst  of  the  new  duties  then  imposed  upon  them.  It 
was  on  the  Monday  morning,  and  the  Presbyterian,  Wes- 
leyan,  and  Independent  ministers  were  met  in  prayerful 
conference  with  reference  to  the  work  in  which  they  all 
had  shared.  I  had  met  one  of  these  friends — the  pastor 
of  the  Independent  church — about  a  month  before,  in  our 
own  town,  where  he  had  come  to  beg  a  visit  of  Mr.  North, 
then  in  the  midst  of  us ;  but  that  eminent  evangelist  had 
his  hands  too  full  to  admit  of  his  undertaking  any  addi- 
tional engagement.  But  now  the  set  time  had  come,  and 
all  were  encouraging  one  another  in  their  common  Ztovd. 

Among  the  earliest  incidents  of  the  revival  in  Armagh, 
the  following  is  related  by  the  Rev-  J.  R.  M'Alister,  re- 


REVIVAL  IN  IRELAND. 


265 


specting  a  scene  of  awakening  in  a  daily,  and  also  in  a 
Sabbath  school: 

"One  morning,  a  little  girl,  about  eleven  years  old,  en- 
tered into  my  daily  female  school,  lifted  up  her  hands  and 
clasped  them,  saying,  "Oh !  I  have  found  Jesus !  I  have 
found  Jesus !'  There  was  no  minister  present  at  first ; 
there  had  been  no  address  delivered  to  children.  The 
words  of  the  child  kindled  the  flame,  and  in  a  few  minutes 
a  wail  of  sorrow  ascended  to  heaven,  that  alarmed  the  in- 
habitants of  the  surrounding  houses.  As  I  passed  along 
the  street,  a  boy  came  in  breathless  haste  to  me,  and  said, 
'Come,  sir,  come!  the  girls  in  the  school  are  all  crying 
for  mercy.'  When  I  entered,  some  were  lying  on  the  floor, 
some  in  the  arms  of  the  teacher,  some  in  the  arms  of  the 
monitor,  some  in  the  arms  of  other  children ;  floods  of  tears 
were  flowing;  confession  of  sin  was  freely  made  from  little 
broken  hearts ;  cries  for  mercy  to  God ;  supplications  for 
Jesus  to  come  and  save  them;  earnest  prayers  for  the 
Holy  Spirit  to  come  and  take  the  stony  heart  out  of  them, 
and  give  them  a  heart  of  flesh.  A  similar  scene  occurred 
in  my  Sabbath-school.  Many  were  stricken  down  in  an 
hour  or  two.  It  was  a  solemn,  a  grand  scene.  Young 
persons  of  both  sexes,  from  twelve  to  twenty-two  years  of 
age,  awakened,  agonizing  under  conviction  of  sin;  lifting 
up  their  hands  to  heaven;  fixing  their  eyes  upon  Jesus; 
confessing  their  transgressions, — one  saying,  'I  am  lost !  I 
am  a  child  of  the  devil ;  for  I  have  told  lies,  and  the  devil 
is  the  father  of  Hes,' — another  exclaiming,  'Ah!  I  have 
rrvocked  Jesus !  ah !  I  hav»e  mocked'  Jes'us !' — another^ 
'What  a  hypocrite  I  have  been!' — many  from  time  to 
time  praying,  'O  Lord !  for  Jesus'  sake  have  mercy  upon 
me;'  'Lord,  open  the  door  of  my  heart  and  come  in!'  'O 


266 


Old  time  religion. 


Jesus,  wash  me  in  the  fountain  of  Thy  blood!'  etc.,  etc. ; 
the  ministers  and  Sabbath-school  teachers  moving  amidst 
them  travailing  in  birth  till  Christ  would  be  formed  in 
them ;  praying  with  them ;  singing  over  them,  and  direct- 
ing their  souls  to  the  great  Physician ;  others  coming,  see- 
ing the  wondrous  work  of  the  Lord,  returning  to  their 
homes  to  render  themselves  up  to  God-'' 

In  the  account  given  by  Rev.  Andrew  Long  of  the  work 
in  Monreagh,  a  rural  district  in  Donegal,  a  few  miles  from 
'the  city  of  Derry,  is  found  the  following : 

Three  Memorable  Services. — "On  the  following  day. 
Sabbath,  July  3,  I  arranged  to  hold  three  meetings — two 
in  the  church,  and  one  at  Drumennon,  in  the  open  air, 
about  three  miles  distant.  Although  the  notice  was  very 
short,  more  than  one  thousand  individuals  were  present  at 
the  latter  place,  and  the  entire  audience  was  deeply  affected. 
At  the  close  of  the  sacred  exercises  there,  I  drove  hastily 
to  Monreagh  for  the  evening  service;  and  it  was  most  in- 
teresting to  see  Httle  flocks  of  men  running  from  Drumen- 
non to  the  church,  through  fields,  with  coat  on  arm.  Many 
of  these  had  been  hitherto  living  as  if  there  were  no  God  ; 
and  yet  this  was  the  third  service  on  that  day  to  which 
they  were  hastening,  without  having  returned  to  their 
homes.  I  was  told  that  one  of  them  actually  fainted  from 
hungqr  by  the  way.  When  I  reached  the  church,  accom- 
panied by  three  worthy  young  men,  who  rendered  me  ef- 
ficient aid  throughout  the  day,  we  found  the  sanctuary 
and  vestry  densely  thronged  in  every  part,  and  many  could 
not  obtain  admittance.  Anxiety  was  pictured  on  every 
countenance,  and  the  entire  scene  was  such  as  I  had 
never  witnessed.  The  meeting  was  continued  till  mid- 
night, and  I  could  not  but  remark  the  wondrous  change 


REVIVAL  IN  IRELAND. 


267 


that  had  passed  over  the  land,  when  the  attention  of  such 
a  vast  multitude  could  be  enchained  till  that  hour. 

"The  Divine  influence  came  down  upon  the  people  at 
each  service  throughout  that  interesting  day.  There  were 
many  physical  manifestations.  Upwards  of  one  hundred 
persons  lay  prostrate  in  the  pews,  and  agonized  in  prayer, 
till  three  o'clock  next  morning.  Many  of  the  cases  were 
quite  unusual.  One  young  female  continued  to  sing  a 
sweet,  mournful  air,  apparently  her  own,  to  words  that 
occurred  to  her  at  the  moment,  all  about  Jesus,  and  all  as 
beautiful  as  if  arranged  by  the  finest  poet.  She  seemed 
unconscious,  and  sat  in  her  pew  all  the  time  with  her  eyes 
steadfastly  gazing  upwards.  Never  did  I,  or  any  of  that 
awe-stricken  audience,  listen  to  sounds  so  unlike  those  of 
earth.  It  was  like  an  angel's  song.  Her  voice  seemed  to 
be  attuned  by  some  celestial  power;  and  its  clear,  sweet, 
symphonious  tones,  led  us  all  to  feel  that  that  place  was 
like  the  very  gate  of  heaven. 

"Towards  the  end  of  July,  bodily  prostrations  became 
less  frequent,  yet  God  did  not  cease  to  work  mightily 
among  the  people.  From  time  to  time  dead  souls  have 
been  quickened;  and  among  those  who  found  the  Lord 
Jesus,  the  most  intense  earnestness  continued  to  be  mani- 
fested. Their  new  life  became  apparent  by  a  new  obedi- 
ence, and  a  diligent  waiting  upon  God  in  all  the  ordinances 
of  His  grace. 

The  Present  and  the  Past. — "Since  the  beginning  of 
the  great  awakening,  we  have  had  congregations  on  week- 
days, during  the  autumn,  varying  from  five  hundred  to  one 
thousand;  whereas,  about  twelve  months  ago,  it  would 
have  been  very  difficult  to  have  collected  two  hundred 
persons  even  on  any  occasion.  Formerly  I  ms  under  tht 


268 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


necessity  of  giving  up  a  monthly  Congregational  prayer- 
meeting,  the  attendance  was  so  miserable;  and  the  only 
way  in  which  I  could  maintain  the  semblance  of  it  was  by 
holding  district  meetings,  and  thus  itinerating  through 
our  bounds ;  and  even  then  very  few  came  together.  But, 
no  sooner  did  the  Holy  Ghost  breathe  on  the  dead  bones, 
than  eight  weekly  and  two  bi-weekly  district  meetings 
sprang  up  spontaneously.  And  in  addition  to  these  we 
have  one  week-day  and  two  Lord's-day  union  prayer-meet- 
ings, which  are  numerously  attended.  Formerly  I  was 
obliged  to  abandon  a  second  service  on  the  Sabbath  in 
summer,  and  substitute  a  kind  of  double  service  without 
intermission.  Now,  the  attendance  at  the  evening  lecture 
is  frequently  as  good  as  in  the  morning;  and,  nothwith- 
standing  the  frequency  of  our  meetings,  none  are  saying, 
'What  a  weariness  is  it.'  Nay,  some  do  not  leave  the 
church  from  morning  till  the  close  of  the  evening  service. 

In  the  account  furnished  by  Rev.  J.  M.  Killen  of  the 
work  in  Comber — where  for  14  years  previously  meetings 
had  been  held  for  the  purpose  of  seeking  a  revival  of 
religion  and  where  the  Spirit  came  upon  the  people  with 
wondrous  power — we  find  the  following : 

"And  here,  in  reference  to  these  prostration  cases,  I  can- 
not help  remarking,  that  I  do  not  consider  these  as  features 
of  the  revival  greatly  to  be  deplored,  or  as  requiring  any- 
thing like  apology.  I  am  satisfied,  from  what  I  have  been 
continually  witnessing  for  the  last  ten  months,  that  they 
have  not  only  been  exceedingly  useful  in  the  way  of  arous- 
ing and  arresting  the  attention  of  both  the  church  anH  the 
world,  but  I  am  convinced-that  they  have  also  been  greatly 
blessed  to  the  parties  affected.  This  is  a  view  of  the  mat- 
ter to  which  public  attention  has  not  as  yet  been  suffi- 


REVIVAL  IN  IRELAND. 


269 


ciently  directed,  and  therefore  I  am  the  more  anxious  that 
it  should  be  noticed,  as  I  consider  it  a  very  important  one. 
Am  I  asked,  then.  In  what  way  have  these  prostrations, 
which  so  weakened  the  body,  acted  beneficially  on  the 
soul? — I  reply.  By  compelling  those  so  affected  to  sus- 
pend for  a  time  their  worldly  avocations,  and  to  withdraw 
for  a  little  from  the  world.  By  being  confined  a  few  days 
to  bed,  they  were  shut  out  from  the  world,  and  shut  up 
with  God.  Jehovah,  as  it  were,  in  this  way  drew  them 
aside  into  the  wilderness  to  talk  with  them  for  a  time,  and 
by  being  thus  left  alone  with  God,  the  work  was  deepened 
in  their  souls, — a  thorough  spiritual  revolution  was  ac- 
compHshed,  so  that,  when  they  again  returned  to  the  so- 
ciety of  their  fellows,  they  returned — like  Saul  of  Tarsus, 
after  his  three  days  of  blindness  and  seclusion — new  crea- 
tures, the  subjects  of  a  marvellous  and  mighty  trans- 
formation, testifying,  by  their  very  looks  as  well  as  by  their 
lips,  the  great  things  which  God  had  done  for  their  souls. 
Now,  had  there  been  no  prostrations,  and  consequently  no 
weakenings  of  the  body,  the  parties  might,  indeed,  have 
been  awakened,  but  as  most  of  them  belong  to  the  work- 
ing classes,  who  can  ill  afford  to  lose  time,  they  would,  if 
strength  had  permitted,  have  continued  at  their  usual  em- 
ployments, and  would  consequently,  when  under  convic- 
tions of  sin,  have  had  their  minds  distracted  with  worldly 
cares,  been  tempted  by  ungodly  companions,  and  been 
quite  unable  to  give  their  thoughts  entirely  for  a  time  to 
the  matter  of  their  soul's  salvation.  But  by  being  forced, 
through  want  of  bodily  strength,  to  retire  for  a  little  from 
the  world  and  communicate  with  God,  the  work  was  al- 
lowed to  go  on  powerfully  and  unimpeded;  and  to  these 
days  of  deep,  silent,  solemn,  and  uninterrupted  communing 


270 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


with  their  own  hearts  and  with  their  God  upon  their  beds, 
at  the  very  commencement  of  their  spiritual  career,  I  at- 
tribute very  much  of  that  decision  of  character,  devoted- 
ness  of  Hfe,  and  elevated  tone  of  piety  which  are  so  con- 
spicuous in  many  of  our  converts. 

"In  illustration  of  the  above  remarks,  allow  me  tO-  ad- 
duce a  single  case.  An  elderly  woman,  the  mother  of  a 
family,  who  had  been  a  careless,  cursing  creature,  and  one 
greatly  opposed  to  the  revival,  was,  some  time  after  its 
commencement,  suddenly  and  violently  prostrated  on  her 
own  kitchen  floor.  When  I  first  saw  her  she  was  rolling 
on  the  ground  and  writhing  with  agony.  Her  appearance 
was  certainly  the  most  satanic  I  ever  beheld.  The  by- 
standers were  overawed ;  all  felt  that  influences  more  than 
human  were  at  work.  A  medical  man  was  sent  for,  but  he 
fled  at  the  sight,  declaring  that  it  was  a  case  for  a  clergy- 
man, and  not  for  a  physician.  The  unhappy  woman  was 
evidently  the  subject  of  a  great  spiritual  conflict.  Her 
cries  for  about  an  hour  were  terrific.  She  declared  that 
Satan  and  all  the  devils  in  hell  were  round  about  her. 
Gradually  her  shrieks  subsided,  and  as  the  paroxysms  wore 
of¥,  she  settled  down  into  a  sort  of  despairing  calm.  For 
days  she  continued  weak  in  body  and  distressed  in  soul, 
but  at  length  the  light  broke,  her  bonds  were  loosed,  she 
saw  and  embraced  Christ,  obtained  peace,  and  was  filled 
with  a  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory;  and  she  is  now 
one  of  the  finest  specimens  of  Christian  character,  and  of 
a  mother  in^  Israel,  I  have  ever  known, — distinguished  by 
her  strong  faith,  her  ardent  love,  and  her  Christian  meek- 
ness, her  sweetness  of  temper,  and  an  almost  uninterrupted 
realization  of  her  Redeemer's  presence,  combined  with  a 
very  profound  reverence  for  Messiah's  character,  a  strong 


REVIVAL  IN  IRELAND. 


271 


desire  to  promote  His  glory,  and  a  most  extreme  sensi- 
tiveness lest  she  should  do  anything  to  forfeit  the  en- 
joyment of  His  love.  'O  sir/  said  she  lately  to  me,  'I  am 
just  watching  how  I  Hft  and  lay  down  my  feet,  lest  I  should 
offend  Him.' 

Answers  to  Special  Prayer. — "I  may  now  mention  one 
or  two  cases  illustrative  of  answer  to  prayer.  Soon  after 
the  revival  commenced  here,  a  neighboring  clergyman 
called  on  me  one  Saturday,  and  requested  that  I  and  our 
converts  would  pray  for  the  conversion  of  his  two  sons, 
boys  of  ten  and  twelve  years  of  age.  I  assented,  and  next 
morning,  at  our  prayer-meeting,  I  proposed  to  the  converts 
that  we  should  make  the  conversion  of  the  minister's  sons 
a  special  topic  of  supplication  every  morning  during  that 
week.  On  the  following  Friday  evening  this  minister  came 
over  to  assist  me  at  our  usual  evening  service,  and  with 
tears  of  thankfulness  declared  that  God  had  already  con- 
verted one  of  his  children,  and  entreated  us  to  continue 
our  supplications  for  the  other.  We  did  so,  and  in  about 
ten  days  afterwards  the  same  minister  wrote,  informing 
me  that  his  other  son  was  also  converted  to  the  Lord. 

"Another  instance,  illustrative  of  the  same  fact,  is  that 
of  a  poor  man,  advanced  in  life  and  unmarried,  who  was 
converted  in  our  congregation  at  the  beginning  of  the 
work.  As  soon  as  he  had  embraced  the  Lord  himselT,  lie 
became  most  anxious  for  the  conversion  of  the  family  with 
whom  he  resided,  and  of  his  fellow-workmen  in  the  mill 
where  he  was  employed.  But  all  these  were  most  ungodly ; 
and  when  they  saw  the  change  which  had  taken  place  in 
him,  instead  of  rejoicing  in  his  joy,  they  mocked,  swore, 
sung  impure  songs,  and  did  all  they  could  to  thwart  and 
distress  him.  He  saw  that  remonstrances  were  vain,  ancl' 


272 


Old  time  religion. 


he  resolved  to  pray  for  them.  He  did  so ;  but  for  a  time  ^ 
no  answer  c^me,  and  he  was  sorely  discouraged.  Still  he 
resolved  to  continue  his  supplications  on  their  behalf;  and 
suddenly  one  day  the  men  in  the  mill  were  astonished  at 
cries  proceeding  from  their  homes,  which  were  hard  by. 
The  business  in  the  mill  was  suspended,  and  when  the  men 
rushed  to  their  houses  to  see  what  caused  those  cries,  they 
found  their  wives  and  daughters  prostrated  under  strong 
convictions,  crying  for  mercy  to  the  Lord.  The  hitherto 
despised  convert  was  at  once  applied  to,  and,  with  a  heart 
overflowing  with  gratitude,  he  led  their  supplications  and 
directed  all  to  Christ.  Soon  the  Lord  vouchsafed  His 
mercy;  the  weeping  penitents  became  rejoicing  converts, 
and  wives  and  daughters  were  that  day  added  to  the  Lord. 

Scene  in  a  Mill. — ''C  's  prayers  were  as  yet,  how- 
ever, only  partially  answered.  They  were  still  to  receive 
a  more  glorious  fulfilment.  Some  days  after  the  above  oc- 
currence, the  mill  had  again  to  be  stopped,  but  this  time 
not  because  of  the  women,  but  the  men.  Husbands  and 
brothers,  whilst  engaged  at  their  work,  were  arrested  and 
smitten  down  whilst  in  the  very  act  of  attending  the  ma- 
chinery. Some  of  the  strongest  men  and  greatest  scoff- 
ers in  the  whole  country  fell  powerless  in  a  moment  under 
the  mighty  and  mysterious  influence  that  was  at  work. 
Never  had  there  been  such  a  day  in  that  establishment. 
Strong  men  might  be  seen  prostrated  and  crying  for  mer- 
cy; converted  wives  and  daughters  bent  Over  them  with 
tears  of  joy,  whilst  they  returned  thanks  to  God  for  the 
awakening  of  their  husbands  and  brothers,  and  prayed 
that  soon  all  might  rejoice  with  one  another  as  heirs  to- 
gether of  the  grace  of  life;  and  such  has  been  the  case. 
Poor  C  's  prayers  have  indeed  been  answered,  for  he 


HEVIVAL  IN  IRELAND. 


273 


has  just  been  telling  me  that  the  seven  souls  in  the  house 
■where  he  resides  are  now  all  converted,  and  that  about 
nine-tenths  of  the  workers  in  the  mill  have  been  visited  by 
the  Spirit  of  the  Lord. 

Revival  among  Quarrymen. — "My  space,  already  well- 
nigh  exhausted,  will  only  allow  me  to  give  another  instance 
of  the  power  and  prevalency  of  the  revival  in  this  district. 
About  two  miles  from  this,  near  the  outskirts  of  the  parish, 
there  is  a  quarry,  which  was  formerly  notorious  for  the 
wickedness  of  those  who  wrought  in  it.  It  was,  in  fact, 
an  emporium  for  all  sorts  of  vice;  but  when  our  revival 
commenced  in  Comber,  it  was  such  a  strange  and  unheard- 
of  thing  amongst  these  quarrymen,  that  they  resolved, 
through  curiosity,  to  come  and  see  how  it  was  that  people 
were  so  mysteriously  knocked  down.  They  accordingly 
attended  the  nightly  prayer-meetings  in  our  congregation. 
Gradually  a  change  crept  over  them.  Driiiking  was  di- 
minished, swearing  was  given  up,  seriousness  and  anxiety 
prevailed.  I  was  requested,  as  I  could  not  go  in  the  even- 
ing, to  go  and  preach  to  them  during  working  hours  in  the 
middle  of  the  day.  I  did  so-  Immediately  on  my  appear- 
ance all  work  was  suspended ;  and,  at  the  very  busiest 
time,  master  and  men  attended  for  upwards  of  two  hours. 
Whilst  under  the  open  sky,  in  a  sort  of  large  amphitheatre, 
formed  by  the  excavation  of  the  quarry,  and  surrounded 
by  the  mountain's  rocky  walls,  I  proclaimed  to  them  the 
glorious  gospel  of  the  blessed  God.  Much  good,  I  under- 
stand, was  that  day  effected.  Prayer-meetings  amongst 
the  men  were  immediately  established.  The  occupier  of 
the  quarry  and  head  of  the  whole  establishment  soon  an- 
nounced to  his  men  that  he  himself  was  entirely  changed, 
and  declared  that  he  had  resolved  to  live  hencefortfi  only 
for  Christ.    A  marvelous  alteration  was  soon  apparent; 


Old  time  iiELiaiON. 


and  such  has  been  the  effect  produced,  that  Mr.  D  * 

the  head  of  the  establishment  referred  to,  told  me  last 
week,  that  out  of  ninety-six  families  in  his  employment, 
upwards  of  ninety  have  now  established  family  worship. 
'Drunkenness,'  he  said,  'has  disappeared,  and  neither  oath 
nor  improper  expression  is  now  heard  in  that  quarry.  As 
for  myself,'  continued  Mr-  D  ,  'I  now  look  upon  my- 
self as  a  mere  steward,  having  nothing  of  my  own,  and 
bound  by  feelings,  both  of  responsibility  and  gratitude,  to 
live  for  God's  glory.' 

''Such,  my  dear  sir,  are  some  of  the  effects  of  the  re- 
vival in  this  quarter.  I  might  mention  more,  and  dwell 
especially  on  its  having  caused  family  worship  to  be  very 
generally,  I  may  say,  almost  universally,  observed  amongst 
the  families  of  my  charge ;  but  your  space  forbids,  and  I 
must  close." 

We  especially  commend  to  the  attention  of  our  readers 
the  following  words  of  Mr.  Gibson — spoken  in  conclusion  re- 
garding this  wonderful  revival  in  Ireland  of  which  the  se- 
lections we  have  given  afford  but  a  few  glimpses — and  pray 
that  his  closing  words  as  well  as  the  account  already  given 
may  be  greatly  used  of  God  in  stirring  up  Christrian  hearts 
to  labor  and  intercede  for  as  glorious  an  outpouring  of  the 
spirit  throughout  our  own  land.     Mr.  Gibson  says : 

"To  the  record  presented  in  the  preceding  pages  it  can- 
not be  necessary  to  append  any  corroboration.  Authenti- 
cated as  the  great  awakening  of  1859  has  been,  by  those 
who,  from  the  outset,  had  the  most  abundant  opportunities 
of  estimating  its  real  character  and  results,  nothing  further 
can  be  requisite  to  commend  it  as  a  genuine  and  wonder- 
ful work  of  God.  Its  origin  and  progress  unequivocally 
attest  it  as  divine.    In  startling  and  impressive  grandeur 


REVIVAL  IN  IRELAND. 


275 


it  burst  forth  in  a  comparatively  sequestered  region;  and 
scarcely  had  the  new-born  flame,  drawn  down  by  the  few 
earnest  watchers  there,  begun  to  burn,  when  it  spread,  in  all 
directions,  over  an  entire  province.  All  classes  and  all  ages 
caught  the  heavenly  fire.  Within  the  church,  a  cold  for- 
mality, an  apathetic  and  unimpressible  decorum,  were  ex- 
changed for  a  living  and  vigorous  piety ;  without,  the  igno- 
rant and  unreclaimed  were  seized  as  by  a  resistless  power  ; 
and  from  the  ranks  of  the  abandoned  and  the  profligate,  as 
well  as  of  those  who  had  been  brought  up  under  the  drop- 
pings of  the  sanctuary,  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands 
were  made  to  realize  the  possession  of  an  endless  life. 

'*ln  reviewing  the  course  of  this  great  spiritual  move- 
ment as  here  narrated,  there  are  many  reflections  which  can- 
not but  suggest  themselves;  and  to  some  of  these  we  may 
not  unseasonably  devote  this  concluding  chapter. 

Is  not  a  narrative  like  the  present  fitted  in  an  emi- 
nent degree  to  revive  the  faith  of  the  church  in  the  omnipo- 
tent grace  and  energy  of  the  Holy  Spirit  ? 

"How  else  is  it  possible  to  account  for  such  an  extraor- 
dinary movement  upon  the  souls  of  men,  than  by  referring 
it  to  that  almighty  Agent,  by  whom  alone  the  dead  are  quick- 
ened into  newness  of  life?  Or  what  other  solution  can  be 
given  of  the  strange  phenomenon,  than  that  it  is  the  opera- 
tion of  the  same  power  that  wrought  the  pentecostal  won- 
ders ?  Although  a  recognition  of  the  personality  and  work- 
ing of  the  Holy  Spirit  is  a  fundamental  article  in  the  creed 
of  every  true  church  of  Christ,  yet  how  inadequate  has  been 
the  apprehension  of  this  grand  truth !  and  how  low  the  stand- 
ard of  the  church's  hopes  and  expectations !  Forming  her 
calculations  rather  on  the  slow  rate  of  progress  with  which 
she  is  familiar,  she  is  affected  with  an  almost  incredulous 


276 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


amazement,  or  surprise,  when  a  wide-spread  interest  in  relig- 
ion is  evinced,  and  a  whole  community  is  shaken  as  by  the 
voice  that  shakes  the  wilderness.  Professing  to  believe  in 
the  descent  of  the  Spirit  upon  all  flesh,  she  is  yet  startled  and 
awed  when  here  and  there  an  earnest  of  future  increase 
shows  itself,  forgetting  that  the  partial  shower  of  blessing 
is  but  the  forerunner  of  those  rushing  floods  that  shall,  ere 
long,  descend  to  refresh  the  weary  heritage,  and  cover  the 
face  of  the  world  with  fruit.  But,  let  a  great  awakening 
come,  and  how  does  she  stand  abashed  because  of  unbelief, 
and  rise  to  an  anticipation  commensurate  with  the  glorious 
fulness  of  gospel  promise,  and  with  her  own  predestined  fu- 
ture on  the  earth !  Lifted  up  into  a  new  position,  and  might- 
ily advanced  in  living  and  abiding  power,  she  looks  forward 
at  such  a  time  to  a  greater  enlargement  still,  when,  through 
the  instrumentality  of  her  new-born  sons  and  daughters,  she 
shall  break  forth  on  the  right  hand  and  the  left,  clothed  with 
an  immortal  energy,  and  arrayed  as  in  a  divine  panoply,  for 
the  conquest  of  the  world.  The  arm  of  the  Lord  has  been 
revealed,  and  she  can  say,  with  a  new  emphasis,  and  with 
something  like  an  appreciation  of  its  profound  significance, 
— 'I  believe  in  the  Holy  Ghost.' 

"2.  What  an  illustration  is  presented,  by  such  a  move- 
ment, of  the  rapidity  with  which  God  can  bring  about,  in 
accordance  with  the  sure  word  of  prophecy,  His  purposes 
of  mercy  to  the  world ! 

^'But  a  short  time  ago,  and  the  prospect,  whether  in  a 
temporal  or  spiritual  sense,  seemed  dark  for  unhappy  Ire- 
land. But  what  a  rapid  change!  Within  the  last  twelve 
years,  our  country  has  been  emerging,  with  unprecedented 
progress,  into  a  condition  of  extraordinary  temporal  pros- 
perity; and  now,  through  this  great  revival,  she  has  been 


REVIVAL  IN  IRELAND. 


277 


lifted  up  to  the  gaze  of  universal  Christendom.  Visitors 
from  many  lands — from  Continental  Europe,  Asia,  and 
America — have  come  to  admire  the  wonder-work  which 
has  been  wrought  among  her  people;  and  the  spiritual 
change  produced  within  her  northern  province  has  given 
a  new  impetus  to  the  cause  of  truth  and  righteousness, 
even  to  the  ends  of  the  earth.  The  toiling  pioneers  among 
the  distant  heathen  have  been  quickened  by  the  glad  tidings ; 
the  worn  and  weary  watchers  at  every  mission-field  have 
seen,  in  what  has  come  to  pass  in  Ireland,  an  earnest  and  an 
augury  of  the  blessed  time  when  they  shall  no  longer  go 
forth  weeping,  bearing  precious  seed ;  but  when,  their  patient 
toil  rewarded,  they  shall  have  a  reaping-time  of  joy  in  the 
great  world-harvest  of  ransomed  souls.  Every  living  church 
has  been  revived  and  stimulated  by  the  record;  and  from 
this  far-ofif  isle  of  ocean  has  gone  forth  a  hallowed  influence, 
that  has  told  with  thrilling  power  upon  the  hopes  and  aspira- 
tions of  the  world. 

"And  when  at  any  time  we  witness  an  instantaneous  re- 
ception of  the  gospel  tidings, — when  the  light  that  has 
broken  in  upon  the  darkened  intellect  is  welcomed  as  the 
harbinger  of  endless  day, — when  thousands  and  tens  of 
thousands,  hearing  of  free  mercy,  grasp  the  offer,  and  ex- 
perience the  unclouded  sunshine  of  a  settled  peace, — ^when, 
on  a  great  scale,  there  is  a  turning  unto  God,  and  an  ex- 
uberant delight  proportionate  to  the  marvelous  transition, 
— when  the  call  has  come  with  such  attending  power  that 
the  most  stout-hearted  are  bowed  at  once,  and  the  gracious 
result  is  visible  in  every  varied  form  of  manifestation, — why, 
is  not  this  just  what  we  should  expect,  as  the  most  reasonable 
fulfilment  of  Divine  prediction, — a  gladsome  foretaste  of  the 
golden  day,  when  the  glorious  things  spoken  of  the  city  of 


278 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


God  shall  be  realized,  and  the  abundance  of  the  Spirit,  long 
withheld,  shall  be  poured  out  upon  all  mankind?  , 

^'3.  In  contemplating  the  present  awakening,  it  is  in- 
teresting to  observe  the  marked  coincidence  between  its  lead- 
ing features  and  those  which  characterized  the  working  of 
the  Spirit  in  apostolic  times. 

"And  here  let  us  briefly  advert  to  the  experience  of  the 
early  converts,  as  recorded  in  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  ""^ 
as  compared  with  that  of  those  in  Ireland,  who  have  been 
lately  added  to  the  church. 

"What  holding  fast  of  their  profession!  During  the 
period  that  has  elapsed  since  the  commencement  of  the 
work  of  grace  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  many  have  been 
tempted  to  forsake  the  course  on  which  they  entered,  and 
to  relapse  into  their  old  sins.  Yet  they  have  continued, 
in  all  good  conscience,  until  this  day ;  and,  though  the  fervor 
of  the  first  love  may  have  subsided,  they  have  sustained  their 
character  for  consistency,  and  have  been  enabled  to  maintain 
an  edifying  deportment,  often  amid  many  provocations. 

^'What  steadfastness  'in  doctrine'  !  for  this  is  the  secret 
of  all  continuance  in  well  doing.  What  thirst  for  God, 
for  His  truth;  what  meditation  in  His  law  day  and  night; 
what  diligent  attendance  on  catechetical  instruction;  what 
relish  for  that  theology  of  which  Christ  is  the  Alpha  and  the 
Omega,  the  all  and  in  all ! 

"What  steadfastness  'in  fellowship !'  To  talk  with  one 
another  of  the  preciousness  of  Christ,  and  of  the  great  sal- 
vation; to  strengthen  each  other's  hearts,  help  each  other's 
infirmities ;  to  stimulate  each  other  to  a  still  greater  readiness 
to  work  for  their  blessed  Master ;  and,  as  they  travel  on  to 
their  eternal  home,  to  lighten  the  toil  and  trial  of  the  pil- 
grimage by  speaking  to  one  another  in  psalms,  and  hymns, 


REVIVAL  IN  IRELAND 


279 


and  spiritual  songs ;  and,  ofttimes  with  hearts  too  full  for  ut- 
terance, to  pour  out  their  common  supplications  before  the 
throne, — ^these  are  the  delightful  and  abounding  evidences 
that  the  new  children  of  the  covenant  are  knit  together  in  an 
endearing  and  indissoluble  alliance. 

"What  inexpressible  delight  in  the  'breaking  of  bread'  ! 
The  communion  is  now  a  holy  festival — a  very  feast  for 
gladness.  Such  sacramental  seasons  as  have  been  witnessed 
when  the  young  disciples  have  commemorated,  in  presence 
of  their  brethren,  the  dying  love  of  Jesus !  What  tears  of 
joy  have  freely  fallen  even  in  the  prospect,  as  on  that  touch- 
ing occasion  referred  to  by  a  minister  (the  Rev.  J.  R.  Dill,  of 
Dromore,  County  Tyrone),  when  forty,  all  of  whom  pro- 
fessed to  have  found  the  Savior,  could  not  contain  for  weep- 
ing !  *0n  the  Sabbath  morning  of  the  communion,  a  won- 
derful scene  took  place  in  the  vestry,  where  they  had  met  for 
prayer.  Such  a  deep  influence  of  the  Spirit  came  down  upon 
their  hearts,  that  they  were  utterly  unable  to  proceed  with 
singing  the  words, 

'My  broken  body  thus  I  give.' 

Nothing  was  heard  but  sobbing.'  And  what  an  accession  to 
the  membership  of  the  churches,  when,  even  in  connection 
with  some  three  hundred  congregations  in  that  section  of 
it  to  which  most  frequent  allusion  is  made  in  the  foregoing 
narrative,  upwards  of  ten  thousand  have  lately  been  en- 
rolled in  membership ! 

"What  continuance  *  in  prayer  ' !  From  first  to  last,  the 
work  has  been,  to  a  great  extent,  a  record  of  answered 
prayer.  Let  the  revival  of  secret  and  domestic  worship, — 
the  new-born  gift  poured  out  alike  on  old  and  young,  male 
and  female, — the  heaven-directed  aspirations  presented  at 
those  brief  seasons  snatched  from  worldly  occupation  for 


280 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


Spiritual  converse, — the  many  social  gatherings  now  sanc- 
tified by  the  word  and  prayer, — and  the  distinctness,  im- 
portunity, and  expectancy  exhibited  by  those  who  have  been 
divinely  taught  to  pray,  bear  witness  to  the  extent  to  which 
the  Spirit  has  been  given  as  a  Spirit  of  grace  and  supplica- 
tion. 

"What  a  oneness  of  interest  among  the  subjects  of  the 
awakening!  even  as  when  in  the  early  time  'all  that  be- 
lieved were  together,  and  had  all  things  in  common/  How 
have  the  promptings  of  natural  selfishness  been  overborne 
by  the  love  ot  Christ  and  of  His  people!  How  have  the 
homes  and  hearts  of  many  been  freely  opened  to  welcome 
those  who  came  among  them  to  observe  the  works  and 
wonders  of  the  Lord !  And  if  no  great  outflow  of  Christian 
liberality  is  yet  to  be  recorded,  it  is  to  be  borne  in  mind 
that '  not  many  rich  '  have  been  the  subjects  of  the  gracious 
influence, — the  Divine  sovereignty  being  conspicuous  in 
giving  most  to  those  who  needed  most,  while  the  great  ma- 
jority of  the  converted  have  been  among  the  younger  mem- 
bers of  the  families  into  which  it  has  found  an  entrance. 
Yet  many  an  unseen  offering  has  been  laid  already  upon  the 
altar  of  the  Lord  for  the  advancement  of  His  cause, — ^the 
spontaneous  prompting  of  hearts  which  had  been  opened  to 
hearken  to  His  word, — and  many  a  toil-worn  pastor  has 
been  encouraged  by  the  considerate  gifts  presented  in  their 
Master's  name  by  those  who  count  themselves  His  spiritual 
^  children. 

"And  what  shall  we  say  more,  or  how  more  adequately 
characterize  their  whole  deportment,  than  in  the  remaining 
words  of  the  same  passage  of  inspired  history?  'And 
they  continuing  daily  with  one  accord  in  the  temple,  and 
breaking  bread  from  house  to  house,  did  eat  their  meat  with 


REVIVAL  IN  IRELAND, 


281 


gladness  and  singleness  of  heart,  praising  God,  and  having 
favor  with  all  the  people.'  Till  the  revival  came,  we  had 
no  adequate  conception  of  such  a  social  state  as  is  here  de- 
lineated. But  we  can  now,  in  some  measure,  understand  it. 
A  state  of  things  in  which  the  difficulty  is,  not  to  bring  the 
people  together  to  the  sanctuary,  but  to  induce  them  to  retire 
from  its  cherished  precincts, — an  abounding  and  pervasive 
joy  manifesting  itself  in  open-hearted  hospitality  and  wel- 
come given  to  the  brethren  in  Christ,  the  very  countenance 
irradiated  as  by  a  gleam  of  the  heavenly  glory, — the  every- 
day life  a  psalm  of  praise, — the  habitual  converse  the  out- 
flowing of  a  fount  of  perennial  gladness, — and  the  *  adorn- 
ing of  the  doctrine  of  God  our  Savior  '  so  palpable  and  at- 
tractive as  to  win  all  hearts,  constraining  even  the  impenitent 
and  the  unbeliever  in  the  work  to  accord  the  tribute  of 
esteem  and  admiration, — these  are  the  indications  of  a  higher 
tone,  and  a  holier  brotherhood,  than  have  been  ordinarily 
exemplified  in  the  church.  And  what  though,  in  the  first 
outburst  of  the  new  life,  some  temporary  excesses  and  ex- 
travagances have  appeared,  yet  who,  at  such  a  time,  will 
harshly  criticize,  or  grudge  to  these  ne\v-gathered  souls  the 
overflowing  fulness  of  their  joy?  Is  it  not  refreshing  in 
this  cold  world,  and  amid  the  formalism  which  insinuates 
itself  into  the  very  church  of  God,  to  mark  in  any  the  artless 
and  enrapturing  expression  of  their  gushing  sympathies, 
and  their  brave  indifference  to  times  and  places,  ceremonials, 
and  all  outward  things  ?  Irregularities,  if  such  we  call  them, 
will  correct  themselves ;  and  the  serenity  of  the  horizon  will, 
alas!  too  soon  be  clouded  by  the  storms  and  trials  with 
which  these  new-born  children  of  the  Lord  will  have  to  con- 
tend till  the  strife  is  ended,  and  the  life-battle  won. 

"4.  May  we  not  learn  from  such  awakenings  as  that 


282 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


under  review,  that,  for  the  conversion  of  the  v^rorld,  we  do 
not  need  another  gospel;  and  that  the  forces  which  the 
church  now  possesses,  always  including,  over  and  above 
machinery,  the  presence  of  the  life-giving  Spirit,  are  amply 
sufficient  for  the  great  ends  of  her  existence  ? 

"There  has  been  manifested,  in  certain  quarters,  of  late, 
•  an  undefined  but  unmistakable  impatience  with  the  old  and 
familiar  modes  in  operation  for  the  extension  of  the  cause 
and  kingdom  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Symbolism  has 
done  its  best  to  supersede  the  simple  gospel,  by  overlaying 
it  with  forms  of  curious  device  and  tracery,  and  by  the 
introduction  of  ritualistic  novelties,  by  which,  although  the 
taste  of  the  aesthetic  man  may  be  regaled,  the  free  spirit 
is  only  hindered  in  its  efforts  to  ascend  to  the  sure  region 
where  it  ought  to  worship  and  adore. 

^'But  when  a  spirit  of  revival  comes,  away  with  pictorial 
playthings  and  mystic  shadows!  the  necessities  of  man's 
moral  nature  demand  a  better  and  a  more  enduring  sub- 
stance. Then  none  but  Christ,  and  Christ  without  any 
other!  and  every  tendency  to  idealize  anything  as  a  sub- 
stitute for  His  finished  work,  dies  within  sight  of  the  shades 
of  Calvary.  Then,  too,  the  church  of  God  learns,  as  she 
had  not  done  before,  that  she  is  in  possession  of  that  mighty 
secret,  would  she  only  use  it,  by  which  the  whole  earth  is 
to  be  subjugated  to  her  Almighty  King.  She  finds  that  all 
the  glad  results  she  witnesses  have  sprung  from  the  felt  and 
prized  experience  of  those  truths  which,  in  their  divine  har- 
mony, have  been  exhibited  in  her  distinctive  symbols,  and 
handed  down  from  generation  to  generation  of  her  children. 
She  realizes  the  conviction,  that  for  all  the  ends  of  her  estab- 
lishment she  needs  no  other  instrument,  and  no  other  or- 
ganization, by  which  to  carry  it  over  the  habitable  globe. 


REVIVAL  IN  IRELAND. 


283 


She  comes  to  know,  if  not  before,  that  what  she  ought  to 
aim  at  with  intenser  earnestness  than  ever,  is  to  bring  the 
truth,  in  its  native  force  and  divine  simplicity,  into  direct 
and  immediate  contact  with  the  hearts  and  consciences  of 
men ;  and  thus  she  is  sustained  and  strengthened  in  the  an- 
ticipations of  the  period  when  the  rebuke  of  her  people 
shall  be  taken  away  from  off  all  the  earth;  when  all  that 
prophecy  unfolds  to  the  eye  of  faith  shall  be  a  grand  reality ; 
and  when  there  shall  be  a  voice  of  much  people  in  heaven, 
as  it  were  the  voice  of  a  great  multitude,  and  as  the  voice 
of  many  waters,  and  as  -the  voice  of  mighty  thunderings, 
saying,  'Halleluia!  for  the  Lord  God  omnipotent  reigneth.' 

"5.  We  learn,  from  such  a  work  of  grace  as  that  which 
has  taken  place  in  Ulster,  the  true  theory  and  solution  of 
the  problem  of  Christian  union. 

^'Is  it  not  to  the  church  an  instructive,  and  to  the  world 
a  convincing  sight,  which  is  exhibited  at  such  a  time  of  spir- 
itual renovation?  How  often  do  we  hear,  on  platforms,  of 
'sinking  of  minor  differences,'  and  the  like;  and  yet  how 
rarely  do  we  practice  it,  or  make  it  manifest  that  we  are  one 
with  all  who  hold  by  the  Living  Head  in  faith,  and  hope 
and  charity! 

"But  let  a  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost  be  given,  and  what 
before  was  a  pleasing  theory,  beautiful  to  contemplate,  im- 
possible to  realize,  becomes,  without  an  effort,  an  actual 
reality.  Let  the  disperser  of  confusion  rend  the  heavens, 
and  come  down  to  do  things  that  we  looked  not  for,  and  the 
mountains  flow  down  at  His  presence.  Separations  that 
threatened  to  last  forever,  yield  to  His  glad  advent,  and  the 
perpetual  hills  bow  before  Him  whose  ways  are  everlasting. 
The  ditTerent  sections  of  the  one  great  spiritual  community 
then  find  that  they  have  so  much  to  do  with  anxious,  inquir- 


284 


OLD  TIME  RELIGION. 


ing,  and  converted  souls,  that  they  have  no  time,  no  taste, 
no  spirit,  for  aught  beside.  Thus  is  accomplished  a  result 
that  no  semi-mechanical  agencies,  however  well  intended, 
could  possibly  achieve.  When  we  find  others  beyond  our 
own  pale,  and  whom,  it  may  be^,  we  have  been  accustomed 
to  regard  with  jealousy,  blessed  with  a  shedding  down  upon 
them  of  the  same  gracious  influence,  how  can  we,  in  the  face 
of  such  heaven-descended  tokens,  be  found  perpetually 
trumpeting  forth  vainglorious  assertions  of  the  pre-eminent 
value  of  our  own  systems  and  usages ;  and  how  can  we  re- 
fuse to  say,  combining  the  temper  of  the  dove  with  that  of 
the  eagle,  and  looking  from  on  high  on  the  wide  circle  of 
divine  mercy,  *Grace  be  with  all  those  that  love  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  in  sincerity'? 

'The  conclusion  of  the  matter,  therefore,  is,  that  for  the 
healing  of  the  wounds  of  a  distracted  church,  and  for  the 
melting  down  of  sectarian  jealousies  and  alienations,  there 
is  but  one  sovereign  remedy — the  baptism  of  the  Holy 
Ghost. 

"6.  This  great  awakening  casts  a  new  light  upon  the 
duties  and  responsibilities  of  individual  Christians. 

*'In  this  respect,  it  has  called  forth  into  harmonious  de- 
velopment a  new  power  in  the  church,  even  the  power  of 
prayerful  effort  among  its  true-hearted  and  devoted  mem- 
bers. What  is  it  that  has  long  been  for  a  lamentation 
among  the  faithful  ministers  of  the  gospel  in  this  land? 
Has  it  not  been  that  their  labors  were  not  seconded  by  the 
prayers  and  efforts  of  their  own  people  ? — the  great  bulk  of 
whom  seemed  to  regard  themselves  as  in  no  way  responsible 
for  the  state  of  religion,  either  their  immediate  neighbor- 
hood, or  in  the  world.  For  want  of  Christian  sympathy 
and  co-operation,  have  not  the  hands  of  ministers  hung  down, 


REVIVAL  IN  IRELAND. 


285 


and  their  spirits  often  sunk  within  them,  as  they  contem- 
plated the  low  condition  of  the  professing  church  of  God  ? 

"Happily,  this  hinderance  is  being  taken  out  of  the  way. 
In  many  a  district,  there  are  those  who  have  begun  to  say 
unto  their  brethren,  'Know  the  Lord/"  and  are  thus  show- 
ing that  they  are  living  unto  Christ,  and  working  for  Him 
in  the  world.  Sloth,  worldliness,  selfishness,  in  their  vari- 
ous forms,  are  being  practically  rebuked,  and  a  state  of 
preparation  is  going  forward  for  putting  the  church  in  a 
position  in  which  her  energies  shall  be  increased  a  thousand 
fold." 


God's  financial  JPlan 


OR 

Temporal  Prosperity  the  Kesult  of  Faithful 
Stewardship. 


By  Rev.  S.  B.  Shaw. 

The  thought  of  this  book  was  in  our  mind  and  heart 
for  several  years,  and  we  were  greatly  blessed  in 
getting  the  manuscript  ready  for  the  press.  We  have 
quoted  from  the  most  devoted  and  most  noted  authors 
and  writers  in  the  Christian  church  and  have  recorded 
the  experiences  and  testimonies  of  many  of  the  most 
successful  business  men  that  have  honored  God  with 
their  substance.  We  are  sure  all  engaged  in  the  Lord's 
work  will  be  glad  to  help  us  circulate  it. 

Dear  brethren,  as  God  has  enabled  you  to  see  the 
desolation  of  Zion,  the  coveteousness  of  professed 
Christians,  the  unscriptural  methods  of  raising  money 
for  the  support  of  the  gospel,  the  sad  financial  condi- 
tion of  many  of  our  churches,  the  awful  condition  of 
the  starving  and  dying  in  all  lands,  we  ask  you  to  help 
us  to  show  the  people  of  God  how  to  do  their  duty  in 
providing  for  the  needs  of  the  work. 

In  Christian  love, 

S.  B.  SHAW. 

This  book  has  over  300  pages,  5x8  inches,  substan- 
tially bound  in  paper,  price  35  cents.  In  cloth  covers, 
sewed,  price  $1.00. 


A  Timely  Book, 

Review  Notices  from  Leading  Religious  Periodicals 
concerning  GOD'S  FINANCIAIi  PLAN  or  Tem- 
poral Prosperity  the  Result  of  Faithful  Stew- 
ardship. 

The  Independent:  ♦♦This  is  a  better  book  than  'Coin's  Financial 
School'— better  for  bankers,  traders,  farmers,  working  people,  and  every 
one  who  cares  to  prosper  in  this  world.  It  is  based  on  solid  principles;  it 
has  the  whole  history  of  the  world  back  of  it,  the  Bible  under  it,  and  is  sup- 
ported by  examples  and  instances  of  which  the  author  gives  us  a  few  in  the 
volume  named  above.  The  doctrine  of  the  book  is  nothing  more  nor  less 
than  the  doctrine  of  the  Bible,  illustrated  in  the  history  of  men  in  this  world 
and  enforced  by  it.  Mr.  Shaw's  previous  volume,  'Touching  Incidents  and 
Remarkable  Answers  to  Prayer,*  reached  a  sale  of  some  250,000  copies.  This 
book  deserves  as  great  a  success.  It  is  a  capital  antidote  to  the  gross  and 
popular  commercialism  of  the  times." 

The^  Herald  and  Presbyter:  "The  writer  of  this  book,  seeing  the 
haphazard  methods  employed  in  the  church  for  replenishing  the  treas- 
ury, or,  rather,  not  keeping  it  replenished,  was  led  to  realize  that  God  had 
a  system  in  his  Word  for  this  part  of  the  work,  so  he  has  made  a  simple 
exposition  of  God's  plan  for  systematic  and  proportionate  giving,  and  in  this 
little  volume  urges  Christians  everywhere  to  adopt  God's  own  methods,  so 
that  His  treasury  may  be  filled,  and  kept  filled." 

The  Revivalist:  "A  running  perusal  of  'God's  Financial  Plan' by  Rev. 
S.  B.  Shaw,  convinces  me  that  it  is  a  radiant  sun-burst  on  the  subject.  It 
will  prove  a  spiritual  and  temporal  blessing  to  all  who  will  walk  in  its, 
light.  Pastors  and  official  boards  should  read  it,  and  it  should  be  sown 
broadcast  among  believers.  It  is  written  in  a  taking  style  which  the 
common  people  will  gladly  hear.  I  believe  it  is  the  best  book  I  ever  saw 
on  the  subject." 

Michigan  Christian  Advocate:  "It  is  a  strong  plea  for  the  consecration 
by  Christians  of  their  substance  to  the  Lord  and  the  practice  of 
systematic  giving.  Many  incidents  are  given  as  incentives  to  a  course  of 
fidelity  and  trustfulness." 

The  Christian  Messenger:  "The  name  of  the  author  is  a  suffi- 
cient guarantee  to  the  worth  of  this  book.  The  main  object  is  to  show  that 
God  does,  as  of  old,  bless  with  material  prosperity  those  who  meet  the  con- 
ditions of  tithing  and  freewill  offerings,  as  taught  in  the  Sacred  Scriptures. 
The  book  we  are  sure  will  prove  a  great  help  to  all  classes  of  Christian 
people  who  are  passing  through  financial  trial." 

The  Evangelical  Messenger:  "A  useful  and  practical  discussion 
of  tlie  important  subject  of  Christian  benevolence.  There  is  need  of 
teaching  on  this  line.  The  conscience  of  many  Christians  is  asleep,  and 
their  judgment  woefully  deficient.  The  era  of  universal  Scriptural  benevo- 
lence would  hasten  the  millenium  more  than  any  other  one  thing  we  can 
think  of.   Mr.  Shaw's  book  will  do  good  wherever  circulated." 

The  Religious  Telescope:  "The  book  is  the  outgrowth  of  over 
twenty  years'  experience  as  an  evangelist.  It  is  a  forcible  plea  in  favor  of 
God's  plan  for  raising  money  for  the  support  of  His  church,  as  against 
modern  devices,  such  as  fairs,  festivals,  quilts,  chain  letters,  socials,  etc. 
It  will  well  repay  a  careful  reading,  and  will  be  of  special  value  to  pastors 
and  church  workers." 

The  Christian  Herald:  "This  excellent  little  volume  is  worthy 
wide  circulation  and  careful  reading-  as  an  important  and  valuable 
contribution  to  the  literature  of  a  great  subject,  upon  which  there  is  a  wide 
diversity  of  thought  and  belief,  and  in  which  a  larger  and  deeper  interest 
should  be  taken  by  Christians  regardless  of  denominational  lines." 

The  Christian  Union  Herald:  "One  thing  in  this  author's  presentation 
of  the  subject  which  I  specially  admire  is  that  it  urges  systematic  giving, 
mt  ia  a  legal,  but  Id  an  evangelical  spiriW* 


A  Great  Harvest  For  Agents  Selling 

Dying  Testimonies 

OP 

Saved  and  Unsaved. 

This  book  is  uniform  in  size  and  appearance  with 
Touching  Incidents  and  Remarkable  Answers  to  Prayer, 
and  contains  the  most  wonderful  death-bed  experiences 
of  the  saved  and  unsaved  that  can  be  found. 

The  experiences  are  indescribable.  It  is  hard  to 
picture  the  awful  contrast  between  the  last  words  and 
actions  of  dying  saints  and  sinners  as  given  in  this 
book.  Several  hundred  of  the  most  touching 
and  wonderful  experiences  are  given.  We  think 
it  the  most  complete  work  ever  published  on  this  sub- 
ject. It  will  be  of  great  value  to  clergymen  and 
evangelistic  workers.  Everybody  will  read  it  with 
delight. 

The  book  is  issued  in  two  styles: 

Paper  Binding,  price  35  cents. 
Cloth  Binding,  price  $1,00, 

Write  at  once  for  terms  to  agents, 

S.  B.  SHAW,  Publisher, 

212  West  Chicago  Avenue 
Chicago,  111. 


